Preventives and remedies for chronic hepatitis

ABSTRACT

To provide a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for chronic hepatitis, capable of inhibiting the binding of hepatitis virus and a target cell, thereby preventing or treating chronic hepatitis; and a fusion interferon capable of still more improving a viral clearance ratio at the termination of interferon administration. A prophylactic or therapeutic agent for chronic hepatitis, comprising an oligopeptide having the following characteristics: (A) having a binding affinity to a viral antigen protein; (B) inhibiting binding of virus to a receptor protein on a target cell for said virus; and (C) having homologies with said receptor protein at the amino acid sequence level; a fusion interferon containing an amino acid sequence of the above-mentioned oligopeptide; and method for treating chronic hepatitis in combination with the use of interferon, characterized by using the oligopeptide or a part thereof in combination with interferon.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a therapeutic agent for chronic hepatitis, comprising an oligonucleotide having an amino acid sequence or a part thereof, wherein the amino acid sequence is important for infection of hepatitis virus into a target cell. Concretely, the present invention relates to a therapeutic agent for chronic hepatitis, comprising an oligopeptide or a part thereof, the oligopeptide being capable of binding to an antigenic protein for hepatitis virus and having an action of inhibiting binding of virus to a receptor protein, or a compound prepared on the basis of its sequence. Also, the present invention relates to a fusion interferon comprising the oligopeptide and its partial amino acid sequence. Further, the present invention relates to a method for treating chronic hepatitis in combination with the use of interferon.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Chronic type-B hepatitis and type-C hepatitis developed by infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are grave viral diseases which are transformed into cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma at a high ratio. In Japan, the number of hepatitis B virus carriers is said to be about one million, and that of hepatic C virus carriers is said to be about 1.3 millions. The carriers have been spread world-widely. HCV, which is a single-stranded RNA virus belonging to Flaviviridae, has been considered to transform to chronicity by factors for the virus side such as avoidance from the immune mechanism by gene mutation and factors from the host side such as decrease in the immunocompetence and the viral clearance ability. On the other hand, since HBV belonging to Hepadonaviridae is a double-stranded DNA virus, a mutation in a virus genome does not take place as much as it does in HCV; however, it transforms to chronicity by incorporation into chromosome DNA. Also in HBV, there is found fulmination caused by avoidance from the immune mechanism caused by mutation of a virus gene.

[0003] Presently, the only one treatment method for eliminating the virus is an interferon treatment method. However, a ratio at which the virus is finally eliminated is 40% or so in HCV and 20% or so in HBV. In particular, in an interferon treatment method for the HCV, there is caused a difference in its therapeutic effect depending upon the status of the patient, such as serotype of HCV, virus amount and histological progression degree. In particular, in the case of genotype II and hyperviremia, it has been known that its amelioration effect is low and a virus clearance ratio is also low.

[0004] As a method of treating chronic type-C hepatitis, a treatment mainly comprising clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and improvement in liver function is carried out. Inter alia, a treatment of chronic type-C hepatitis by interferon having improved actions in both HCV clearance and liver function is carried out as the only one method of treatment for virus clearance. However, such a treatment has the disadvantage that a virus complete clearance ratio for HCV is as low as 40% or so. For that reason, a method for treating chronic hepatitis in combination with the use of interferon and ribavirin, amantadine or the like has been recently developed; however, the method still has a disadvantage that the effectiveness is yet low. Alternatively, a drug for improving a liver function by using glycyrrhizin or the like has been tried for a patient showing resistance to interferon; however, the drug has a disadvantage that the liver function is rapidly worsened after the termination of administration.

[0005] On the other hand, as a method of treating chronic type-B hepatitis, an interferon treatment method is carried out as in the case of chronic type-C hepatitis; however, the therapeutic effect can be expected currently on the level of only 20% or so. Recently, in the treatment of chronic type-B hepatitis, an inhibitor for an HBV polymerase has been administered; however, the administration has the large side effects and relapse of virus is found after the termination of administration. Further, upon the development of fulminant type-B hepatitis, a method for treatment in combination with the use of interferon and cyclosporin is carried out after exchange of whole serum; however, a lifesaving rate is low currently. As described above, a treatment method which is truly effective for chronic type-B hepatitis and chronic type-C hepatitis which may lead to development of cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma has not been established currently, even though hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus have been distributed world-widely and virus carriers are present at 1% or so or greater of the population.

[0006] Accordingly, the present invention has been accomplished in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and a first object of the present invention is to provide a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for chronic hepatitis, capable of inhibiting the binding of hepatitis virus and a target cell, thereby preventing or treating chronic hepatitis. A second object of the present invention is to provide a fusion interferon and a method for treating chronic hepatitis in combination with the use of interferon, capable of still more improving a viral clearance ratio at the termination of interferon administration.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

[0007] Concretely, the gist of the present invention relates to:

[0008] [1] a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for chronic hepatitis, comprising an oligopeptide having the following characteristics:

[0009] (A) having a binding affinity to a viral antigen protein;

[0010] (B) inhibiting binding of virus to a receptor protein on a target cell for the virus; and

[0011] (C) having homologies with the receptor protein at the amino acid sequence level;

[0012] [2] a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for chronic type-C hepatitis, comprising a compound having the following characteristics:

[0013] (a) having a binding affinity to an envelope protein of HCV; and

[0014] (b) inhibiting binding of HCV to a receptor protein on a target cell for the HCV;

[0015] [3] a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for chronic type-B hepatitis, comprising a compound having the following characteristics:

[0016] (a′) having a binding affinity to S antigen protein of HBV; and

[0017] (b′) inhibiting binding of HBV to a receptor protein on a target cell for the HBV;

[0018] [4] a fusion interferon comprising an amino acid sequence of an oligopeptide having the following characteristics:

[0019] (A) having a binding affinity to a viral antigen protein;

[0020] (B) inhibiting binding of virus to a receptor protein on a target cell for the virus; and

[0021] (C) having homologies with the receptor protein at the amino acid sequence level; and

[0022] [5] a method for treating chronic hepatitis in combination with the use of interferon, characterized by using an oligopeptide or a part thereof in combination with interferon, wherein the oligopeptide has the following characteristics:

[0023] (A) having a binding affinity to a viral antigen protein;

[0024] (B) inhibiting binding of virus to a receptor protein on a target cell for the virus; and

[0025] (C) having homologies with the receptor protein at the amino acid sequence level.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026]FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a construct of a gene for interferon with a corresponding oligopeptide added on a C-terminal side.

[0027]FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the analytical results on the homologies between an amino acid sequence of human CD81 and that of bovine lactoferrin. In Panel A, an upper row shows an amino acid sequence of human-derived CD81, and a lower row an amino acid sequence of bovine lactoferrin, and a homologous region between human CD81 and bovine lactoferrin is shaded with meshed pattern. Panel B shows a region which is mostly conserved in the homologous region shown by Panel A.

[0028]FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the analytical results on the homologies between an amino acid sequence of bovine lactoferrin and that of human lactoferrin. An upper row shows bovine lactoferrin and a lower row shows human lactoferrin. In the figure, a region showing the homologies with CD81 is shown.

[0029]FIG. 4 shows a diagram predicting secondary structure of a partial amino acid sequence of a homologous sequence between human CD81 and bovine lactoferrin, which are considered to be bound to HCV. In the figure, among the homologous sequences, the identical amino acids are indicated by bold characters, and the homologous amino acids are indicated by plain characters. In addition, in the prediction of the secondary structure, a part corresponding to amino acids constituting the same secondary structure between human CD81 and bovine lactoferrin is shaded with meshed pattern. In the case of human lactoferrin, a sequence homologous to human CD81 and the identical portions of amino acids maintaining the common secondary structure between human CD81 and human lactoferrin in the amino acid sequence are shaded with meshed pattern. Panel A shows a binding site of human CD81, Panel B shows a binding site of bovine lactoferrin, and Panel C shows a binding site of human lactoferrin.

[0030]FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the analytical results on the homologies of an amino acid sequence of a binding region, on the basis of an amino acid sequence of duck-derived carboxypeptidase D and duck-derived glycine decarboxylase complex P protein, in which binding to duck HBV pre-S antigen is suggested. Panel A shows the analytical results on N-terminal side, and Panel B shows the analytical results on C-terminal side.

[0031]FIG. 6 shows a diagram predicting a secondary structure of the homologous region in FIG. 5. Panel A shows the analytical results on N-terminal side, and Panel B shows the analytical results on C-terminal side.

[0032]FIG. 7 shows a diagram showing the analytical results on the homologies between an amino acid sequence of a binding region of duck-derived carboxypeptidase D to duck HBV and an amino acid sequence of human-derived carboxypeptidase D.

[0033]FIG. 8 shows a diagram showing the analytical results on the homologies between an amino acid sequence of a binding region of duck-derived carboxypeptidase D to duck HBV and amino acid sequence of human-derived carboxypeptidase D. FIG. 8 is a continuation from the analytical results shown in FIG. 7.

[0034]FIG. 9 shows the analytical results on the homologies between an amino acid sequence of duck-derived glycine decarboxylase complex P protein and an amino acid sequence of human-derived glycine decarboxylase complex P protein.

[0035]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the analytical results on the homologous regions of human CD81, bovine lactoferrin, human lactoferrin and human LDL receptor. C circumscribed by an open square means a cysteine residue which is commonly found in all the sequences. Basic amino acids contained in respective sequences are shown by bold characters. Amino acid residues which are homologous in three of the sequence of human CD81 (SEQ ID NO: 1), the sequence of bovine lactoferrin (SEQ ID NO: 2) and the sequence of human lactoferrin (SEQ ID NO: 3) are shaded with meshed pattern. In the sequence of human LDL receptor (SEQ ID NO: 18) in an upper row, amino acid residues which are homologous to those of human CD81 are shaded with meshed pattern. In the sequence of human LDL receptor (SEQ ID NO: 19) in a lower row, residues which are homologous to those of human lactoferrin are shaded with meshed pattern.

[0036]FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the analytical results on a homologous region between an amino acid sequence of human CD81 and that of human LDL receptor.

[0037]FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the analytical results on a homologous region between an amino acid sequence of human lactoferrin and that of human LDL receptor.

[0038]FIG. 13 is diagrams showing the results of CD81 expression analyzed by FACScan. Panel (1) is a histogram obtained by staining Jurkat cells with an anti-human CD81 antibody and an FITC-labeled anti-mouse IgG1 antibody, and analyzing by FACScan. A horizontal axis represents FITC fluorescence intensity and a vertical axis represents the number of cells. The results of staining with an isotype control antibody (mouse IgG1), which is a negative control in staining, is shown by a fine solid line, and the results of staining with an anti-human CD81 antibody is shown by a bold solid line. On the other hand, Panel (2) is a histogram obtained by analyzing binding of the recombinant E2 protein to the Jurkat cells by FACScan. The results of staining with the mouse IgG1 is shown by a fine solid line; the results obtained by staining the Jurkat cells untreated with the recombinant E2 protein, with an anti-E2 antibody is shown by a dotted line; and the results obtained by staining the Jurkat cells treated with the recombinant E2 protein, with an anti-E2 antibody is shown by a bold solid line.

[0039]FIG. 14 is a histogram obtained by analyzing with FACScan the binding to the Jurkat cells of the recombinant E2 protein previously incubated with the human CD81-derived peptide [Panel (1)], the bovine lactoferrin protein [Panel (2)] or the bovine lactoferrin-derived peptide [Panel (3)]. The results for which the Jurkat cells without treatment of the recombinant E2 protein were stained with an anti-E2 antibody is shown by a thin solid line, the results for which the Jurkat cells treated with the recombinant E2 protein alone were stained with the anti-E2 antibody is shown by a bold solid line, and the results for which the Jurkat cells treated with the recombinant E2 protein preincubated with a peptide or a protein were stained with the anti-E2 antibody is shown by a dotted line.

[0040]FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the procedures for constructing respective expression vectors for IFN-α2b, IFN-CD81, IFN-human lactoferrin and IFN-bovine lactoferrin, which are HCV binding type IFNs.

[0041]FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing the results of Western blot analysis with an anti-IFN-α antibody, regarding IFN-α2b, and IFN-CD81, IFN-human lactoferrin and IFN-bovine lactoferrin, which are HCV binding type IFNs, wherein each of them is obtained by protein synthesis with in vitro transcription/translation by using the prepared expression vector as a template. Lane 1: pCIA, lane 2: pCIA-CD81, lane 3: pCIA-HLFN, lane 4: pCIA-BLFN, and lane 5: Luciferase T7 control DNA. A solid black arrow shows IFN-α2b, and an open arrow shows the HCV binding type IFNs.

[0042]FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing the results of Western blot analysis with an anti-IFN-α antibody, regarding IFN-α2b, and IFN-CD81, IFN-human lactoferrin and IFN-bovine lactoferrin, which are HCV binding type IFNs, wherein each of them is obtained by transient expression in COS-1 cells. Lane 1: pCIA, lane 2: pCIA-CD81, lane 3: pCIA-HLFN, and lane 4: pCIA-BLFN. A solid black arrow shows IFN-α2b, and an open arrow shows the HCV binding type IFNs.

[0043]FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the anti-viral activity of the culture supernatant of COS-1 cells three days after transfection of pCIA and pCIA-BLFN. In the system for evaluating the Sindbis virus-FL cells, the evaluation was carried out by a Crystal Violet method. INTRON A was 2-fold stepwise diluted where 200 IU/ml was regarded as a dilution fold 1. The culture supernatants were 2-fold stepwise diluted where 1000-fold dilution with the medium was regarded as a dilution fold 1. A vertical axis shows the absorbance of the cells stained with Crystal Violet at 595 nm.

[0044]FIG. 19 is a diagram showing the anti-viral activity of the culture supernatant of the COS-1 cells three days after transfecion of pCIA-CD81 and pCIA-HLFN. In the system for evaluating the Sindbis virus-FL cells, the evaluation was carried out using a Crystal Violet method. INTRON A was 2-fold stepwise diluted where 200 IU/ml was regarded as a dilution fold 1. The culture supernatants were 2-fold stepwise diluted where 1000-fold dilution with the medium was regarded as a dilution fold 1. A vertical axis shows the absorbance of the cells stained with Crystal Violet at 595 nm.

[0045]FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing the binding of transiently expressed HCV binding type IFNs in COS-1 cells to baculovirus-derived recombinant GST-fusion HCV E2 protein (GST-E2). Each of GST-E2 and IFN-α2b (lanes 1 and 5), IFN-CD81 (lanes 2 and 6), IFN-human lactoferrin (lanes 3 and 7), and IFN-bovine lactoferrin (lanes 4 and 8), which are HCV-binding type IFNs, was incubated, and co-precipitated with Glutathione beads, and thereafter the detection was carried out using an anti-IFN-α antibody. Lanes 1 to 4 are precipitation fractions, and lanes 5 to 8 are supernatant fractions. A solid black arrow shows IFN-α2b, and an open arrow shows HCV-binding type IFNs.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0046] One of the features of the prophylactic or therapeutic agent for chronic hepatitis of the present invention resides in that the prophylactic or therapeutic agent comprises an oligopeptide having the following characteristics:

[0047] (A) having a binding affinity for a viral antigen protein;

[0048] (B) inhibiting binding of virus to a receptor protein on a target cell for the virus; and

[0049] (C) having homologies with the receptor protein at the amino acid sequence level.

[0050] Since the prophylactic or therapeutic agent for chronic hepatitis of the present invention comprises the oligopeptide having the above-mentioned characteristics (A) to (C), it is considered that the binding of hepatitis virus, especially hepatitis C virus or hepatitis B virus, to a target cell is inhibited. Therefore, there are exhibited excellent effects that chronic hepatitis can be prevented or treated.

[0051] In the present specification, hepatitis C virus will be abbreviated as “HCV” and hepatitis B virus will be abbreviated as “HBV.”

[0052] The viral antigen protein includes, for instance, an envelope protein of HCV, pre-S protein of HBV, and the like. In addition, the concept of the present invention can be applied to diseases other than chronic hepatitis. In this case, the envelope protein of HIV or the like can be used as a viral antigen protein.

[0053] Since the oligopeptide having the above-mentioned characteristics (A) to (C) comprises an amino acid sequence essential for binding of a receptor protein to virus, the binding affinity of a viral antigen protein to an oligopeptide is exhibited. It is desired that the above-mentioned binding affinity is higher than the binding affinity of virus to a receptor protein on a target cell for the virus, from the viewpoint of inhibiting the binding of the virus to the receptor protein on the target cell for the virus.

[0054] The receptor protein of a target cell for the virus includes human CD81, which is a receptor molecule for HCV; carboxypeptidase D, to which pre-S protein of HBV is deduced to be bound; glycine decarboxylase complex P protein and the like. In the present invention, human CD81, human carboxypeptidase D and glycine decarboxylase complex P protein are preferable.

[0055] At the amino acid sequence level, the above-mentioned oligopeptide has the homologies with a receptor protein of 20% or more at a homologous amino acid level, from the viewpoint of exhibiting sufficient binding affinity. In addition, in the case where similar amino acids are included, it is preferable that the homologies are 50% or more.

[0056] The present invention has been accomplished on the basis of the technical idea described below.

[0057] With respect to HCV, which is an etiologist for hepatitis C, it has been reported that some antibodies to a hypervariable region (HVR1) which is a part of E2 region of an envelope protein of HCV weakens the infectivity of virus (Rosa D. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA., 1996, 93, 1759-1763). A receptor of the cell for HCV is CD81, and it has been suggested that the binding is mediated by E2 region of HCV (Pileri P. et al., Science, 1998, 282, 938-941). In addition, it has been shown that the binding to a viral receptor is inhibited not only by an antibody against HVR1, but other region is necessary for the binding. In addition, aggregation of cells is observed due to binding of an antibody against E2 region or CD81 (Flint M. et al., J. Virol., 1999, 73, 6235-6244).

[0058] In addition, recently, it has been reported that lactoferrin contained in breast milk binds to HCV and reduces an amount of virus in blood (Tanaka K. et al., Jpn. J. Cancer Res., 1999, 90, 367-371). It has been further reported that a viral region to which lactoferrin binds is E2 region (Akito Nozaki et al., Society of Japan Virology, the 47th academic meeting, general meeting program, abstract, 1999, 188). Further, it has reported that the LDL receptor has an affinity with E2 region [Wunschmann, S. et al., J. Virol., 74, 10055-10062 (2000)].

[0059] Since a half-life of virus in blood is deduced to be 2.7 hours (Neumann A U. et al., Science, 1998, 282, 103-107), virus in blood rapidly disappears, when the infection to a cell is suppressed. Standing on this point of view, it is considered that suppression of adhesion of virus to a target cell is effective for eliminating virus in blood in a shorter period of time. However, unless the infected cell is eliminated as described above, complete disappearance of virus cannot be accomplished. Immediately after the administration of interferon, virus in blood is rapidly eliminated, but release of a small amount of virus produces a new infection. Therefore, it is considered that virus is relapsed after the completion of administration of interferon. Therefore, it is considered that a clearance of virus by interferon enhanced by additional administration of a substance which inhibits the infection of virus itself to the administration of interferon having both an anti-virus action and an immuno-stimulating action.

[0060] In addition, in the case of HBV, which is an etiologist for hepatitis B, since HBV is a double-stranded DNA virus, it can be hardly considered that a viral genome disappears directly by an anti-virus action of interferon. Also, since HBV is not a cytotoxic virus and an amount of the virus in blood is correlated with a degree of liver dysfunction, it is considered that the liver dysfunction due to HBV is mainly caused by the immunological eliminating action for a viral infected cell. It is considered that an interferon treatment finally eliminates the virus by mainly more effectively enhancing this immunological eliminating action.

[0061] HBV is a relatively stable virus. It is considered that if the infection to a target cell can be inhibited, a new infection is protected, whereby the immunological eliminating action in an interferon treatment can be maximally drawn out.

[0062] Recently, host proteins binding to pre-S protein of duck hepatitis B virus have been identified. The host proteins were carboxypeptidase D and glycine decarboxylase complex P protein (Tong S. et al., J. Virol., 1999, 73, 8696-8702 and Li J. et al., J. Biol. Chem., 1999, 274, 27658-27665). There has not yet been verified the presence or absence of the affinity of these proteins with pre-S protein in human.

[0063] The present inventors have assumed that there is a sequence capable of inhibiting the binding of CD81 as a HCV receptor to HCV in an amino acid sequence of lactoferrin, and thought that the sequence has certain homologies with CD81. In addition, in HBV, the affinity of HBV pre-S to a cell is present in a limited region from 83rd amino acid residue to 107th amino acid residue in the pre-S protein (Tong S. et al., J. Virol., 1999, 73, 8696-8702 and Li J. et al., J. Biol. Chem., 1999, 274, 27658-27665). Therefore, even if there are a plurality of proteins having an affinity to pre-S proteins, the present inventors have deduced that their binding reactions are the same, and thought that there are found some homologies in an amino acid sequence and a tertiary structure in carboxypeptidase D and glycine decarboxylase complex P protein. As a result, the present inventors have found a partially similar sequence from the comparison of an amino acid sequence of lactoferrin, which is thought to protect against the HCV infection, with an amino acid sequence of human CD81, which is a viral receptor, and also found an amino acid sequence which is similar to that of a protein having an affinity to duck HBV pre-S. The present inventors have thought that an oligopeptide sequence or a part thereof, or a compound having a structure similar to tertiary structures of those sequences has been effective for suppressing the viral infection. The present invention has been found based on such a discussion.

[0064] The prophylactic or therapeutic agent for chronic hepatitis of the present invention include a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for chronic type-C hepatitis, a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for chronic type-B hepatitis, and the like.

[0065] One of the features of the prophylactic or therapeutic agent for chronic type-C hepatitis of the present invention resides in that the prophylactic or therapeutic agent comprises a compound having the following characteristics:

[0066] (a) having a binding affinity to an envelop protein of HCV; and

[0067] (b) inhibiting binding of HCV to a receptor protein on a target cell for the HCV.

[0068] Since the prophylactic or therapeutic agent for chronic type-C hepatitis of the present invention comprises a compound having the above-mentioned characteristics (a) and (b), it is considered that the binding of hepatitis C virus on a target cell is inhibited. Therefore, there are exhibited excellent effects that chronic type-C hepatitis can be prevented or treated.

[0069] Concretely, there can be exemplified as the compound having the above-mentioned characteristics (a) and (b), oligopeptides (1) and (2) described below, nucleic acids encoding the oligopeptides, and the like.

[0070] (1) Oligopeptide comprising an amino acid sequence or a part thereof, wherein the amino acid sequence is found by identification of a homologous sequence of bovine and human lactoferrins which has been known to bind to HCV, and human CD81, which is a receptor molecule for HCV.

[0071] Concretely, there are exemplified oligopeptides shown in the following 1) to 3), which are a region for binding to HCV, the oligopeptides being capable of inhibiting the binding to a viral receptor:

[0072] 1) an oligopeptide having a part of human-derived CD81 protein (SEQ ID NO: 7), wherein the oligopeptide consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1;

[0073] 2) an oligopeptide having a part of bovine-derived lactoferrin protein (SEQ ID NO: 8), wherein the oligopeptide consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2; and

[0074] 3) an oligopeptide having a part of human-derived lactoferrin protein (SEQ ID NO: 9), wherein the oligopeptide consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3.

[0075] The nucleic acid encoding an oligopeptide satisfying the above-mentioned requirement 1) includes a nucleic acid comprising a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of:

[0076] (i) a nucleic acid encoding an oligopeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1;

[0077] (ii) a nucleic acid having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4; and

[0078] (iii) a part of the nucleic acid encoding an oligopeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

[0079] In addition, the nucleic acid encoding an oligopeptide satisfying the above-mentioned requirement 2) includes a nucleic acid comprising a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of:

[0080] (iv) a nucleic acid encoding an oligopeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2;

[0081] (v) a nucleic acid having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5; and

[0082] (vi) a part of a nucleic acid encoding an oligopeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.

[0083] In addition, the nucleic acid encoding an oligopeptide satisfying the above-mentioned requirement 3) includes a nucleic acid comprising a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of:

[0084] (vii) a nucleic acid encoding an oligopeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3;

[0085] (viii) a nucleic acid having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6; and

[0086] (ix) a part of the nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3.

[0087] (2) Oligopeptide comprising an amino acid sequence or a part thereof, wherein the amino acid sequence is found by identification of a homologous sequence between a human LDL receptor, which has been known to bind to HCV, and human CD81, which is a receptor molecule for HCV.

[0088] Concretely, there are exemplified oligopeptides shown in the following 1′) and 2′), which are a region for binding to HCV, the oligopeptides being capable of inhibiting binding to a viral receptor:

[0089] 1′) an oligopeptide having a part of a human LDL receptor (SEQ ID NO: 22), wherein the oligopeptide consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 18; and

[0090] 2′) an oligopeptide having a part of a human LDL receptor (SEQ ID NO: 22), wherein the oligopeptide consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19.

[0091] The nucleic acid encoding an oligopeptide satisfying the above-mentioned requirement 1′) includes a nucleic acid comprising a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of:

[0092] (i′) a nucleic acid encoding an oligopeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 18;

[0093] (ii′) a nucleic acid having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 20; and

[0094] (iii′) a part of the nucleic acid encoding an oligopeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 18.

[0095] In addition, the nucleic acid encoding an oligopeptide satisfying the above-mentioned requirement 2′) includes a nucleic acid comprising a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of:

[0096] (iv′) a nucleic acid encoding an oligopeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19;

[0097] (v′) a nucleic acid having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 21; and

[0098] (vi′) a part of a nucleic acid encoding an oligopeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19.

[0099] The nucleic acid used in the present invention may be a nucleic acid complementary to the nucleic acids of the above-mentioned (i) to (ix) and (i′) to (vi′), and concretely the nucleic acid may be DNA or RNA. In addition, as long as the encoded polypeptides have the above-mentioned characteristics (a) and (b), there can also be used in the present invention (x) a nucleic acid having a nucleotide sequence having substitution, deletion, addition or insertion in at least one base in a nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of the above-mentioned (i) to (ix); (xi) a nucleic acid capable of hybridizing with a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of above-mentioned (i) to (x) under the stringent conditions; (vii′) a nucleic acid having a nucleotide sequence having substitution, deletion, addition or insertion in at least one base in a nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of the above-mentioned (i′) to (vi′); and (viii′) a nucleic acid capable of hybridizing with a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of the above-mentioned (i′) to (vi′) under the stringent conditions.

[0100] The term “stringent conditions” as referred to herein includes conditions described in Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual Second eds.,(1980).

[0101] Here, each of the nucleotide sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 7 to 9 is a nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid encoding human-derived protein CD81, a nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid encoding bovine-derived lactoferrin or a nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid encoding human-derived lactoferrin. The amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 is a part of an amino acid sequence of human-derived CD81 of SEQ ID NO: 7. Also, the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 is a part of an amino acid sequence of bovine-derived lactoferrin of SEQ ID NO: 8. In addition, the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3 is a part of an amino acid sequence of human-derived lactoferrin of SEQ ID NO: 9. The nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4 is a nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid encoding an amino acid sequence of human-derived CD81 of SEQ ID NO: 1; the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5 is a nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid encoding an amino acid sequence of bovine-derived lactoferrin of SEQ ID NO: 2; and the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6 is a nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid encoding an amino acid of human-derived lactoferrin of SEQ ID NO: 3. Each of SEQ ID NOs: 18 and 19 is a part of an amino acid sequence of human LDL receptor of SEQ ID NO: 22. Each of SEQ ID NOs: 20 and 21 is a nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid encoding an amino acid sequence of human-derived LDL receptor of SEQ ID NO: 18 or 19.

[0102] Further, the compound which can be used in the prophylactic or therapeutic agent for chronic type-C hepatitis of the present invention includes an oligopeptide or a part thereof, wherein the oligopeptide has the following characteristics:

[0103] I) consisting of 31 to 33 amino acids which are flanked by cysteine residues;

[0104] II) forming a loop structure; and

[0105] III) comprising basic amino acid residues at a middle portion and C-terminal side of loop structure;

[0106] a cyclic oligopeptide comprising the oligopeptide or a part thereof; and the like.

[0107] Concretely, the oligopeptide having the above-mentioned characteristics I) to III) includes a peptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 3 or 27, and a cyclic peptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 28.

[0108] The oligopeptide used in the present invention can be deduced by comparison with each of an amino acid sequence of bovine lactoferrin, of which binding activity to HCV is known, and an amino acid sequence of CD81.

[0109] Concretely, an amino acid sequence is deduced on the basis of each nucleotide sequence of human CD81 (accession No. NM004356) or bovine lactoferrin (accession No. M63502) disclosed in a known database (GenBank), and each amino acid sequence may be compared.

[0110] Each peptide is synthesized on the basis of the resulting homologous region, and binding activity of the peptide to a recombinant E2 protein is confirmed. A confirmation of the binding activity can be carried out, for example, by ELISA, immunoprecipitation, RIA or the like.

[0111] Thereafter, inhibition of binding of the recombinant E2 protein to a cell expressing CD81, for example, Jurkat cell may be confirmed. The confirmation of inhibition of the binding can be carried out by FACS analysis, or determination of radioactivity bound to a cell in a case where the recombinant E2 protein labeled with a radioactive isotope element is used, besides the above-mentioned ELISA and RIA.

[0112] In addition, in order to determine what sort of an amino acid sequence contained in the oligopeptide is effective for suppressing the virus infection, a partial amino acid sequence of the above-mentioned selected sequence is synthesized, whereby selection can be made on the basis of the binding affinity to E2 and the inhibitory effect of binding of E2 to CD81.

[0113] One of the features of the prophylactic or therapeutic agent for chronic type-B hepatitis of the present invention resides in that the prophylactic or therapeutic agent comprises a compound having the following characteristics:

[0114] (a′) having a binding affinity to S antigen protein of HBV; and

[0115] (b′) inhibiting binding of HBV to a receptor protein on a target cell for the HBV.

[0116] Since the prophylactic or therapeutic agent for chronic type-B hepatitis of the present invention comprises the compound having the above-mentioned characteristics (a′) and (b′), it is considered that binding of a hepatitis B virus on a target cell is inhibited. Therefore, there are exhibited excellent effects that chronic type-B hepatitis can be prevented or treated.

[0117] Concretely, as the compound having the above-mentioned characteristics (a′) and (b′), there are exemplified an oligopeptide described in item (2) below and a nucleic acid encoding the oligopeptide.

[0118] (2) Oligopeptide comprising an amino acid sequence or a part thereof, wherein the amino acid sequence is found by identifying a homologous sequence between human carboxypeptidase D and human glycine decarboxylase complex P protein, which are known to bind to HBV

[0119] Concretely, there are exemplified oligopeptides shown in the following 1) to 2), which are a region for binding with HBV, the oligopeptides being capable of inhibiting binding to a viral receptor:

[0120] 1) an oligopeptide having a part of human carboxypeptidase D (SEQ ID NO: 16), wherein the oligopeptide consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10; and

[0121] 2) an oligopeptide having a part of human glycine decarboxylase complex P protein (SEQ ID NO: 17), wherein the oligopeptide consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11.

[0122] The nucleic acid encoding an oligopeptide satisfying the above-mentioned requirement 1) includes a nucleic acid comprising a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of:

[0123] (I) a nucleic acid encoding an oligopeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10;

[0124] (II) a nucleic acid having the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12; and

[0125] (III) a part of the nucleic acid encoding an oligopeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10.

[0126] The nucleic acid encoding an oligopeptide satisfying the above-mentioned requirement 2) includes a nucleic acid comprising a nucleic acid selected form the group consisting of:

[0127] (IV) a nucleic acid encoding an oligopeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11;

[0128] (V) a nucleic acid having a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13; and

[0129] (VI) a part of the nucleic acid encoding an oligopeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11.

[0130] The nucleic acid used in the present invention may be a nucleic acid complementary to the above-mentioned nucleic acids (I) to (VI), and concretely the nucleic acid may be DNA or RNA. In addition, as long as an encoded polypeptide has the above-mentioned characteristics (a′) and (b′), there can be also used in the present invention (VII) a nucleic acid having a nucleotide sequence having substitution, deletion, addition or insertion in at least one base in a nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of the above-mentioned (I) to (VI), and (VIII) a nucleic acid capable of hybridizing with a nucleic acid selected from the group consisting of the above-mentioned (I) to (VII) under the stringent conditions.

[0131] Here, each of the amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 16 and 17 is an amino acid of human-derived carboxypeptidase D and an amino acid of human-derived glycine decarboxylase complex P protein, respectively. The amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10 is a part of an amino acid sequence of human-derived carboxypeptidase D of SEQ ID NO: 16. In addition, the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11 is a nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid encoding an amino acid sequence of human-derived glycine decarboxylase complex P protein of SEQ ID NO: 17. The nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12 is a nucleotide sequence of a DNA encoding an amino acid sequence of human-derived carboxypeptidase D of SEQ ID NO: 10, and the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13 is a nucleotide sequence of a DNA encoding an amino acid sequence of human-derived glycine decarboxylase complex P protein of SEQ ID NO: 11.

[0132] The oligopeptide used in the present invention can be deduced, for example, by comparison with each of amino acid sequences of duck-derived carboxypeptidase D, which is considered to be important for binding to duck HBV, and glycine decarboxylase complex P protein.

[0133] Concretely, an amino acid sequence is deduced by nucleotide sequences of duck-derived carboxypeptidase D (accession No. AF039749) and glycine decarboxylase complex P protein (accession No. AF137264) disclosed in a known database (GenBank), and each region associated with binding to duck-derived pre-S may be compared. As to an application to human, a duck-derived sequence is compared with an amino acid sequence deduced from nucleotide sequences of human-derived carboxypeptidase D (accession No. U65090) and glycine decarboxylase complex P protein (accession No. NM000170), and an amino acid sequence of a corresponding human-derived peptide may then be determined.

[0134] Each peptide is synthesized on the basis of the obtained homologous region, and the binding affinity of the peptide to the recombinant pre-S protein may be confirmed.

[0135] An amino acid sequence of a region effective for suppressing the virus infection in an amino acid sequence contained in the oligopeptide used in the prophylactic or therapeutic agent for chronic hepatitis of the present invention, concretely a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for chronic type-C hepatitis or a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for chronic type-B hepatitis, can be selected by synthesizing a peptide consisting of a part of the amino acid sequence selected as mentioned above and selecting on the bases of the binding activity to a viral antigen and the inhibitory effect of binding of a viral antigen to a virus receptor.

[0136] The oligopeptide having the selected amino acid sequence itself may be administered to a patient with chronic type-B hepatitis or chronic type-C hepatitis. Further, the oligopeptide having the above-mentioned selected amino acid sequence is thought to have an enhanced virus clearance ratio by using the oligopeptide in combination with interferon.

[0137] In the case of chronic type-C hepatitis, soluble CD81 or lactoferrin itself can be administered. It is preferable that an oligopeptide having only a sequence important for binding to HCV is administered, from the viewpoints of reducing the degradation of a protein absorbed during an oral administration and the side effects during intravenous injection.

[0138] The same can be said for the case of chronic type-B hepatitis. The soluble carboxypeptidase D or glycine decarboxylase complex P protein itself can be administered. It is preferable that an oligopeptide having only a sequence important for binding to HBV is administered.

[0139] A prophylactic or therapeutic agent comprising as an active ingredient the selected oligopeptide or a part of the oligopeptide, or a nucleic acid encoding thereof can be administered in combination with an adjuvant, or can be administered in a particulate preparation. As a dosage form, more concretely, a prophylactic or therapeutic agent can be prepared into the form of a liposome preparation, a particulate preparation binding to a bead having a diameter of a few μm, a preparation binding to a lipid or the like. The dose can be appropriately adjusted depending upon the properties of an infected cell, age and weight of a patient and the like, and is usually 0.001 mg/kg/dosage to 1000 mg/kg/dosage. It is preferable that the prophylactic or therapeutic agent is administered every day at an initial administration, and thereafter administered once in several days to several months depending upon the amount of virus in a cell. As an administration form, the prophylactic or therapeutic agent can be administered by oral administration, intraarterial injection, intravenous injection, intramuscular injection or local injection to the liver.

[0140] In addition, it is preferable that the above-mentioned oligopeptide is stabilized in blood, and the oligopeptide may be modified for that purpose. For example, the oligopeptide can be modified by preparing an oligopeptide stable in blood by connecting the oligopeptide to polyethylene glycol, to lengthen its half-life in blood, or modifying the oligopeptide at N-terminal or substituting with D-amino acid.

[0141] According to the above-mentioned oligopeptide, there can be further provided a method for treating chronic hepatitis in combination with the use of interferon. The method for treating chronic hepatitis in combination with the use of interferon is also encompassed within the scope of the present invention. Concretely, one of the characteristics of the above-mentioned method for treatment in combination with the use of interferon resides in that the method uses an oligopeptide or a part thereof in combination with interferon, wherein the oligopeptide having the following characteristics:

[0142] (A) having a binding affinity to a viral antigen protein;

[0143] (B) inhibiting binding of virus to a receptor protein on a target cell for the virus; and

[0144] (C) having homologies with the receptor protein at the amino acid sequence level.

[0145] The action of interferon is roughly classified into the anti-virus action directly acting on an infected cell and the immuno-stimulating action of host immunity.

[0146] For example, in the case of HCV, the anti-virus action by interferon is generated by signal transmission via an interferon receptor, thereby promoting degradation or translation inhibition of RNA of HCV by inducing production of an anti-virus factor. Usually, in an interferon treatment to chronic type-C hepatitis, since RNA of HCV in serum becomes outside the detection limit two days after the administration at 73.8% of remarkably effective cases, it is considered that HCV is eliminated rapidly after the interferon administration (Saito H. et al., Keio J. Med., 1997, 46, 74-80). However, among these cases in which viruses are disappeared, relapse of virus is found after the termination of the interferon administration in a considerable number of cases. These results mean that even if viral RNA is not detected in blood during the interferon administration, many viruses are present in liver or peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC). In the treatment of chronic type-C hepatitis resistant to the interferon treatment, it is thought that complete elimination of HCV present in an infected cell or immunological elimination of an infected cell is necessary. In order to increase the ratio of virus elimination by interferon, activation of these two actions are to be considered. According to the method for treatment in combination with the use of interferon of the present invention, binding of HCV on a target cell can be inhibited by using the above-mentioned oligopeptide or nucleic acid, so that HCV can be eliminated by interferon, whereby the virus clearance ability can be made more effective after the start of the interferon administration. As a result, relapse of interferon-resistant virus at the termination of the interferon administration can be further reduced.

[0147] In the present invention, the selected oligopeptide can be fused with another functional molecule to be used as a fusion substance. The fusion substance is also encompassed in the present invention.

[0148] In this case, it is preferable that a site into which an oligopeptide sequence is inserted is a position at which the activity of the functional molecule is not reduced. In particular, fusion of an interferon molecule and a selected oligopeptide sequence is advantageous in the interferon treatment in that a single dose administration can be made.

[0149] Concretely, the fusion interferon includes a fusion interferon comprising an amino acid sequence of an oligopeptide having the following characteristics:

[0150] (A) having a binding affinity to a viral antigen protein;

[0151] (B) inhibiting binding of virus to a receptor protein on a target cell for the virus; and (C) having homologies with the receptor protein at the amino acid sequence level.

[0152] More specifically, there are included a fusion interferon comprising at least one kind of an amino acid sequence or a part thereof, wherein the amino acid sequence is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2 and 3; a fusion interferon comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10 or 11 or a part thereof.

[0153] When an oligopeptide sequence is inserted into an interferon molecule, the corresponding oligopeptide may be conveniently connected to N-terminal or C-terminal of interferon. Since a neighbor region of N-terminal or C-terminal of interferon is not a region essential for binding of interferon to the interferon receptor, it is determined that interferon retains the activity with a high possibility by addition of the oligopeptide sequence to the terminal. However, a structure of a connected amino acid sequence influences the interferon activity in some cases. In that case, an oligopeptide sequence which does not lower the activity of interferon and can bind to a virus antigen may be limited.

[0154] In this case, an interferon gene may be amplified using PCR primers comprising a region having homologies with a 5′-terminal side or a 3′-terminal side of a DNA encoding the corresponding oligopeptide and a DNA encoding interferon. In addition, it is desired that to add a restriction enzyme cleavage site to a 5′-side of a primer for insertion into an expression vector, because insertion into an expression vector is conveniently carried out. An example of the construction of an interferon gene with the corresponding oligopeptide added on C-terminal side is shown in FIG. 1. Hereinafter, the interferon with the corresponding oligopeptide added on C-terminal is referred to as “C-terminal added interferon,” and the interferon with the corresponding oligopeptide added on N-terminal side is referred to as “N-terminal added interferon.”

[0155] In the production of C-terminal added and N-terminal added interferons, any cell strains derived from prokaryote or eukaryote can be used as a host. In the case of C-terminal added interferon, a termination codon is incorporated at 3′-terminal of a DNA encoding an oligopeptide to be added on C-terminal side. On the other hand, in the case of N-terminal added interferon, when the prokaryote is used as a host, a primer may be designed so that a DNA sequence encoding an oligopeptide having an initiation codon at 5′-terminal is contained. On the other hand, when a cell strain derived from eukaryote is used as a host, a primer may be designed so that an amino acid sequence of an oligopeptide is inserted between C-terminal of a signal sequence of interferon and N-terminal of processed interferon.

[0156] The original interferon gene used as a template in reaction for PCR may be any of interferon-α, interferon-β, and interferon-γ genes. When an interferon-α gene having many subtypes is used, a gene can be cloned by RT-PCR method from Namalwa cell and the like which have been stimulated and infected with NDV or Sendai virus in accordance with the nucleotide sequences described in the database.

[0157] The usefulness of C-terminal added and N-terminal added interferons is as follows:

[0158] 1) by binding of C-terminal added or N-terminal added interferon to an envelope protein of HCV or S antigen of HBV, the adhesion of HCV or HBV to a cell can be inhibited; therefore, the anti-virus action can be dramatically enhanced because of rapid occurrence of clearance of HCV or HBV from blood;

[0159] 2) it is anticipated that a binding constant of an oligopeptide added to HCV and interferon is not so high; also, even if a cell is infected via HCV E2 antigen to which C-terminal added and N-terminal added interferons are not bound, C-terminal added and N-terminal added interferons are present in a large amount in the surrounding of an infected cell; since C-terminal added and N-terminal added interferons have far higher affinity to an interferon receptor than to virus, enhancement of the local interferon action can be expected; and

[0160] 3) by using C-terminal added and N-terminal added interferons bound to HCV or HBV, even if interferon disappears from blood after the administration, the interferon action easily sustains as long as virus bound to C-terminal added and N-terminal added interferons exist.

[0161] In addition, although it is considered that interferon with its terminal modified easily retains the original activity, there is a possibility that a new antigenicity becomes problematic. There is a possibility that the antigenicity is produced due to an amino acid sequence for a part for connecting interferon with an added oligopeptide. However, in the tertiary structure, it is deduced that addition of an oligopeptide to a terminal does not produce a great change in a tertiary structure. Therefore, since an added sequence has extremely high homologies with a human sequence, it is deduced that the antigenicity of a sequence itself is extremely low.

[0162] The fusion interferon of the present invention can be applied to any virus as long as a disease is a viral disease with which the interferon exhibits an anti-virus activity, in addition to human hepatitis C or B virus disease. Also, the fusion interferon can be applied to mammals such as ducks, chickens, horses, cows, sheep, dogs, cats and the like besides human.

[0163] The present invention will be described in further detail by means of examples, without intending to limit the present invention thereto.

EXAMPLE 1

[0164] Analysis of Homologous Region

[0165] (1) Studies on Homologous Region of Human CD81, and Human and Bovine Lactoferrins

[0166] Based on nucleotide sequences of human CD81 (accession No. NM004356), bovine lactoferrin (accession No. M63502), and human lactoferrin (accession No. NM002343) genes, amino acid sequences were deduced from open reading frames contained therein. Each of the amino acid sequences is shown in SEQ ID NOs: 7 to 9.

[0167] The amino acid sequence homologies between human CD81 and bovine lactoferrin were obtained. As a result, the homologies were found between a region of 151st amino acid residue to 195th amino acid residue of CD81 (amino acid NOs: 151 to 195 of SEQ ID NO: 7) and a region of 439th amino acid residue to 481st amino acid residue of bovine lactoferrin (amino acid NOs: 439 to 481 of SEQ ID NO: 8). A region for which the homologies were found is shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, Panel A of the sequence shows human-derived CD81 and Panel B shows bovine lactoferrin.

[0168] In addition, the homologies of amino acid sequences between bovine lactoferrin and human lactoferrin were studied. As a result, it was clarified that the sequence of 439th amino acid residue to 481st amino acid residue of bovine lactoferrin (amino acid NOs: 439 to 481 of SEQ ID NO: 8) corresponded to a sequence of 442nd amino acid residue to 484th amino acid residue of human lactoferrin (amino acid NOs: 442 to 484 of SEQ ID NO: 9), showing the high homologies between bovine-derived lactoferrin and human-derived lactoferrin. The analytical results on a homologous region are shown in FIG. 3. In the sequence of FIG. 3, an upper row shows bovine-derived lactoferrin, and a lower row shows human-derived lactoferrin. In the figure, a region for which the homologies with CD81 were exhibited is indicated.

[0169] A secondary structure of a partial amino acid sequence of each protein to which HCV is considered to bind was predicted. The results were shown in FIG. 4. The homologous sequences between human CD81 and bovine lactoferrin are indicated in the figure. In the homologous sequences, the identical amino acids were indicated by bold characters, and the homologous amino acids were indicated by plain characters. In addition, in the prediction of the secondary structure, portions corresponding to amino acids constituting the same secondary structure between human CD81 and bovine lactoferrin were shaded with meshed patterns. In the case of human lactoferrin, the same portions as amino acids keeping a common secondary structure between a homologous sequence with human CD81, human CD81 and bovine lactoferrin in the amino acid sequence were shaded with meshed patterns.

[0170] As shown in FIG. 4, it was found that the three sequences have the extremely similar structures except that in a homologous region, a structure of 450th amino acid residue to 453rd amino acid residue of human lactoferrin (amino acid NOs: 450 to 453 of SEQ ID NO: 9) takes Sheet structure, while the structures of those in human CD81 and bovine lactoferrin take Turn structure.

[0171] In addition, as shown in FIG. 10, a sequence of human CD81 and sequences of bovine and human lactoferrins were compared. As a result, it was clarified that two cysteine residues existed in similar positions. The cysteine residues were positioned such that 33 amino acids were flanked by the cysteine residues in human CD81, and the cysteine residues were positioned such that 33 amino acids were flanked by the cysteine residues in bovine and human lactoferrins. This means that these regions have a common tertiary structure. It is considered that loop structure is kept by disulfide bond between the cysteine residues. Further, there was found the presence of basic amino acids consisting of arginine and lysine at a middle part of this loop structure and in the neighborhood of cysteine residue on C-terminal side. It is considered that the above-mentioned structural motif is important for binding of HCV. This shows that forming loop structure can increase the binding activity for virus by 1) forcibly generating disulfide bond in an oligopeptide, or 2) connecting N-terminal and C-terminal of an oligopeptide with a compound.

[0172] (2) Studies on Homologous Region Between Human CD81 and LDL Receptor

[0173] Based on a nucleotide sequence of a human LDL receptor (accession No. NM000527) gene, an amino acid sequence was deduced from an open reading frame existing in the above-mentioned gene. An amino acid sequence excluding a signal sequence is shown in SEQ ID NO: 22.

[0174] The amino acid sequence homologies between human CD81 and human LDL receptor were obtained. As a result, the homologies were found between a region of 150th amino acid residue to 191st amino acid residue of human CD81 (amino acid NOs: 150 to 191 of SEQ ID NO: 7) and a region of 170th amino acid residue to 210th amino acid residue of a human LDL receptor (amino acid NOs: 170 to 210 of SEQ ID NO: 22). A region for which the homologies were found is shown in FIG. 11. In the sequence of FIG. 11, an upper row shows human-derived CD81, and a lower row shows a human LDL receptor. Portions shaded with meshed patterns in the amino acid sequence of CD81 are amino acid residues having the homologies with bovine and human lactoferrins, and portions shaded with meshed patterns of the amino acid sequence of a human LDL receptor are regions where the homologies were conserved.

[0175] In addition, the homologies between an amino acid sequence of human lactoferrin and that of a human LDL receptor were studied. As a result, the homologies were found between a region of 442nd amino acid residue to 484th amino acid residue of human lactoferrin (amino acid NOs: 442 to 484 of SEQ ID NO: 9) and a region of 196th residue to 239th residue of a human LDL receptor (amino acid NOs: 170 to 210 of SEQ ID NO: 22). A region for which the homologies were found is shown in FIG. 12. As to the amino acid sequences shaded with meshed patterns, they are as defined in FIG. 11.

[0176] The results of comparison of selected two kinds of human LDL receptor sequences and a homologous region between human CD81, and bovine and human lactoferrins are shown in FIG. 10. As shown in FIG. 10, it can be seen that cysteine residues in both sequences of two kinds of human LDL receptor sequences exist at similar positions with those of human CD81, and bovine and human lactoferrins. In addition, a region flanked by the cysteine residues was studied. As a result, it is shown that a region having the homologies with the human lactoferrin sequence is more consistent with a motif. However, since basic amino acids also exist in the neighborhood of cysteine residues on C-terminal side in the sequence selected by the homologies with human CD81, possibilities of the selected sequence to bind are suggested.

EXAMPLE 2

[0177] Studies on Binding Affinity to HCV E2 Region

[0178] An oligopeptide is synthesized in accordance with each amino acid sequence of homologous regions of human CD81, bovine lactoferrin and human lactoferrin. The resulting oligopeptide is coated on an ELISA plate in accordance with a conventional method. Next, a binding reaction is carried out by adding thereto HCV E2 antigen of Austral Biologicals, Inc. which can be purchased from Cosmo Bio.

[0179] As a control, an ELISA plate is coated with bovine lactoferrin protein of SERVA Electrophoresis GmbH. which can be purchased from Cosmo Bio, or human lactoferrin protein of Cappel Product.

[0180] After binding with the E2 protein and washing, an E2 antigen bound to an oligopeptide coated on a plate is detected by using a monoclonal antibody for the HCV E2 antigen of Austral Biologicals, Inc. which can be purchased from Cosmo Bio.

EXAMPLE 3

[0181] Selection of Amino Acid Sequence Binding to HCV

[0182] An oligopeptide consisting of about 20 amino acids is synthesized so as to overlap with the oligopeptide sequence of which binding activity to HCV E2 antigen in Example 2 is found. In accordance with Example 2, a region having the highest binding activity to the HCV E2 antigen may be selected, and an binding sequence may be further narrowed down. A binding experiment is carried out in the same manner, whereby a smallest oligonucleotide sequence which can bind to HCV E2 antigen can be identified.

EXAMPLE 4

[0183] Studies on Inhibition of Binding of CD81 to HCV

[0184] An oligopeptide capable of binding to HCV E2 antigen is reacted with the HCV E2 antigen to study whether or not binding of CD81 expressed in Jurkat cells purchased from DAINIPPON PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD. to the HCV E2 antigen is inhibited. By the study, whether or not the selected oligopeptide inhibits adhesion of the HCV E2 antigen to CD81-positive cells can be estimated. The inhibitory activity for adhesion of CD81 to the IICV E2 antigen was assayed in accordance with the literature. The concrete description will be given hereinbelow.

[0185] (1) Confirmation of CD81 Expression Using FACScan Jurkat cells (ATCC TlB-152) collected from a culturing T-75 flask (Coaster) in accordance with the conventional method were washed with centrifugation twice with 10 mL of Wash Buffer [phosphate-buffered saline (manufactured by Lifetech Oriental) containing 1% fetal bovine serum (manufactured by BIO WHITTAKER) and 0.1% sodium azide (manufactured by nakalai tesque); hereinafter simply referred to as WB].

[0186] Washed Jurkat cells were suspended in WB so as to have a concentration of 4×10⁶ cells/mL to give a Jurkat cell suspension. Twenty microliters of an anti-human CD81 antibody (BD PharMingen) was added to a 6 mm round-bottom tube (manufactured by Falcon). Further, 50 μL of the above-mentioned Jurkat cell suspension was added thereto, to give an anti-human CD81 antibody-Jurkat cell mixture.

[0187] In order to confirm the specificity of staining, 1 μg of a mouse IgG1 antibody (manufactured by BD PharMingen), the same isotype as the anti-human CD81 antibody, was added to a 6 mm round-bottom tube (manufactured by Falcon). Further, 50 μL of the above-mentioned Jurkat cell suspension was added thereto, to give a mouse IgG1 antibody-Jurkat cell mixture.

[0188] Each of the resulting anti-human CD81 antibody-Jurkat cell mixture and the mouse IgG1 antibody-Jurkat cell mixture was stirred, and each of these mixtures were then allowed to stand on ice for 30 minutes. Thereafter, both mixtures were washed with centrifugation twice with 2 mL of WB, and thereafter suspended in 0.1 mL of WB containing 1 μg of the FITC-labeled anti-mouse IgG1 antibody (manufactured by BD PharMingen). Each of the resulting suspensions was stirred, and thereafter allowed to stand on ice for 30 minutes. Subsequently, the resulting product was washed with centrifugation twice with 2 mL of WB, and thereafter suspended in 0.2 mL of a 10% neutral buffered formalin solution (manufactured by nakalai tesque). The resulting aliquots were analyzed by using FACScan (manufactured by Nihon Becton Dickinson). The above results are shown in FIG. 13. In Panel (1) of FIG. 13, when stained with the anti-human CD81 antibody, the FITC fluorescent intensity became stronger, as compared to that stained with the mouse IgG1. The results show that CD81 is expressed on the surface of the Jurkat cells. On the other hand, in Panel (2), the FITC fluorescent intensity was increased only when the Jurkat cells which had been reacted with the recombinant E2 protein, were stained with the anti-E2 antibody. Therefore, it is shown that the recombinant E2 protein is bound to the Jurkat cells.

[0189] As a result, as shown in FIG. 13, it can be seen that CD81, which is a receptor for HCV E2 protein, is expressed on almost all the Jurkat cells.

[0190] (2) Analysis on Binding of Recombinant E2 Protein to Jurkat Cells

[0191] The Jurkat cells were prepared in the same manner as in item (1), and suspended in WB so as to have a concentration of 4×10⁶ cells/mL, to give a Jurkat cell suspension. One microgram of the recombinant E2 protein (Austral Biologicals) was added to a 6 mm rounded-bottom tube, and 50 μL of the Jurkat cell suspension was added thereto, to give a recombinant E2 protein-Jurkat cell mixture.

[0192] The above-mentioned recombinant E2 protein-Jurkat cell mixture was stirred and thereafter allowed to stand on ice for 30 minutes. The above-mentioned mixture was washed with centrifugation twice with 2 mL of WB, and thereafter suspended in 0.1 mL of WB containing 1 μg of an anti-E2 antibody (Austral Biologicals). After stirring, the mixture was allowed to stand on ice for 30 minutes.

[0193] Hereinafter, in the same manner as in the item (1) above, the resulting product was reacted with an FITC-labeled anti-mouse IgG1 antibody, and thereafter the reaction mixture was suspended in 0.2 mL of a 10% neutral buffered formalin solution. As to the resulting product, E2 protein bound to Jurkat cells was analyzed by using FACScan. The results are shown in FIG. 13.

[0194] The FITC fluorescent intensity which had been increased by the addition of the untreated recombinant E2 protein to the Jurkat cells was weakened by the reaction of a peptide or protein with the recombinant E2 protein. This shows that the peptide or the protein inhibited the binding activity of the recombinant E2 protein to the Jurkat cells.

[0195] Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 13, it can be seen that the E2 protein is bound to the Jurkat cells.

[0196] (3) Peptide Synthesis

[0197] Peptides having amino acid sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 23 to 28 were synthesized on the solid phase by Fmoc method, and purified by reverse phase HPLC. Each of the amino acid sequences shows the following peptides:

[0198] SEQ ID NO: 23 Human CD81-derived peptide: TAPA148,

[0199] SEQ ID NO: 24 Bovine lactoferrin-derived peptide: bLF443,

[0200] SEQ ID NO: 25 Human lactoferrin-derived peptide: hLF445,

[0201] SEQ ID NO: 26 Human LDL receptor-derived peptide: hLDLR194,

[0202] SEQ ID NO: 27 Human LDL receptor-derived peptide: hLDLR220,

[0203] SEQ ID NO: 28 Bovine lactoferrin-derived cyclic peptide: cbLF445.

[0204] Cyclization of the above-mentioned bovine lactoferrin-derived cyclic peptide of SEQ ID NO: 28 was carried out by forming a disulfide bond with cysteine residues positioned at N-terminal and C-terminal. Further, the cyclization was confirmed by mass spectroscopy of the purified peptide.

[0205] (4) Preparation of Peptide Solution

[0206] The peptide obtained in the item (3) above was dissolved in a phosphate buffered saline (hereinafter, referred to as PBS; manufactured by Nissuiseiyaku) so as to have a concentration of 1 mg/mL. In addition, bovine lactoferrin (SERVA Electrophoresis GmbH) was dissolved in PBS so as to have a concentration of 1 mg/mL. Thereafter, each of the resulting solutions was sterilized by filtration using a 0.2 μm cartridge filter (Millipore Corporation). Each of the resulting filtrates was dispensed in an amount of 0.2 mL of and frozen-stored at 80° C. The resulting solutions are referred to as a peptide solution and a purified bovine lactoferrin solution.

[0207] (5) Studies on Inhibitory Action of Binding of E2 by Peptide

[0208] One microgram of the recombinant E2 protein, and 10 μL of the TAPA148, bLF or bLF443 solution obtained in item (4) above were added to a 6 mm rounded-bottom tube and, and WB was then added thereto, to give 50 μL of a mixture. The resulting mixture was stirred and allowed to stand at room temperature for 1 hour. Fifty microliters of the Jurkat cell suspension (4×10⁶ cells/mL) described in item (1) above was added to the resulting solution, and the mixture was stirred and then allowed to stand on ice for 30 minutes. Hereinafter, in the same manner as in item (2) above, the resulting solution was reacted successively with an anti-E2 antibody and an FITC-labeled anti-mouse IgG1 antibody, and the reaction mixture was suspended in 0.2 mL of a 10% neutral buffered formalin solution. As to the resulting suspension, E2 protein bound to Jurkat cells was analyzed by using FACScan.

[0209] As shown in FIG. 14, there is found the inhibitory action of binding of E2 protein by the human CD81-derived peptide (TAPA148). In addition, there is likewise found the inhibitory action of binding of the E2 protein by the bovine lactoferrin (bLF). Further, there is likewise found the inhibitory action of binding of the E2 protein when the bovine lactoferrin-derived peptide (bLF443) is used.

EXAMPLE 5

[0210] Preparation of Interferon to Which HCV-Bound Oligopeptide is Added

[0211] A complementary nucleotide sequence having about 20 bases, immediately before a termination codon of interferon-α2b, and a DNA encoding the selected oligopeptide are fused, and a termination codon sequence was further connected to 3′-terminal, and there are further synthesized 3′-side PCR primers having a restriction enzyme digesting sequence so that the sequence can be cloned into an appropriate restriction enzyme site of pBK-CMV, which can be purchased from Stratagene. In addition, there is synthesized a DNA having a restriction enzyme digesting sequence at a 5′-terminal as a 5′-side primer, and containing a 5′-upstream region of interferon-α2b and a homologous nucleotide sequence having about 20 bases. Thereafter, reaction of PCR is carried out by using a cDNA clone of interferon-α2b obtained with Namalwa cells which can be purchased from DAINIPPON PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD. as a template. The resulting PCR amplified fragment is digested with a restriction enzyme, and then inserted into pBK-CMV, to give an Escherichia coli transformant in accordance with a conventional method. A recombinant plasmid harboring the above-mentioned PCR-amplified fragment is isolated from the resulting transformant. Next, appropriate cells (for example, COS-1 cells, CHO cells etc.) are transfected with the resulting recombinant plasmid by calcium phosphate method, to give C-terminal added interferon-α2b. The resulting culture supernatant is added to various human-derived cell strains (HeLa cells, HepG2 cells and the like), whereby confirming that 2-5A synthase is induced by C-terminal added interferon-α2b. In addition, the resulting C-terminal added interferon-α2b and HCV E2 antigen are incubated, and it is confirmed that adhesion of CD81 expressed in the Jurkat cells to HCV E2 antigen is inhibited by C-terminal added interferon-α2b in accordance with the method described in Example 4. The concrete description will be given hereinbelow.

[0212] It is noted that, in the present experiment, the C-terminal added interferon-α2b was produced using COS-1 cells (purchased from The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research).

[0213] (1) Cloning of Human Interferon-α2b Gene by PCR and Preparation of Interferon-α2b Expression Vector

[0214] PCR was carried out by using KOD Plus DNA polymerase (TOYOBO CO., LTD.) and interferon-α2b-specific primers U-2 (SEQ ID NO: 29) and L-2 (SEQ ID NO: 30), with human genome DNA (manufactured by Promega; cat#: G304A, lot#: 9273102L) as a template. In PCR, there was used the following reaction solution [a solution prepared by mixing 988 ng of human genome DNA, 10 μl of KOD Plus DNA polymerase 10× reaction buffer, 10 μl of dNTPs (2 mM each), 4.8 μl of MgSO₄ (25 mM), 5 μl of primer U-2 (0.1 μg/μl), 5 μl of primer L-2 (0.1 μg/μl) and 2 μl of KOD Plus DNA polymerase (1 U/μl), and adding distilled water thereto to make up a volume of 100 μl].

[0215] As a thermal cycler, GeneAmp 9700 (manufactured by Perkin-Elmer) was used. The thermal profile comprises 1 cycle of 95° C.-3 minutes, 30 cycles of (95° C.-20 seconds, 60° C.-30 seconds, and 72° C.-3 minutes), and 1 cycle of 72° C.-7 minutes, and thereafter, the reaction mixture was allowed to stand at 4° C. overnight.

[0216] The resulting PCR product was purified using QIAGEN PCR Purification Kit in accordance with the attached instruction. The purified DNA fragment was digested with BamHI and HindIII, and the resulting product was purified. In addition, pcDNA3.1(−) (manufactured by Invitrogen) was digested with BamHI and HindIII, and the resulting product was purified. A DNA fragment was inserted into BamHI and HindIII site of the resulting pcDNA3.1(−) digest. By the above procedures, the IFN-α2b expression vector (plasmid was named pCIA) was prepared. In addition, the nucleotide sequence was read and compared with GenBank accession #J00207, V00544, and confirmed to be correct.

[0217] (2) Preparation of HCV-Binding type IFNs Expression Vectors

[0218] An expression vector for a protein, in which human CD81, bovine lactoferrin or a deduced HCV E2 binding region is fused to C-terminal of human IFN-α2b (hereinafter, referred to as “HCV-binding type IFNs”) was prepared by the following procedures 1), 2) and 3) (FIG. 15).

[0219] 1) Introduction of HindIII Site as Connecting Site into C-Terminal of IFN-α2b by PCR

[0220] PCR was carried out by using T7 promoter primer and H3TER primer (SEQ ID NO: 31) with the IFN-α2b expression vector pCIA as a template, to give a DNA fragment in which HindIII site is introduced into a nucleotide sequence corresponding to C-terminal of IFN-α2b, and thereafter the DNA fragment was inserted into pcDNA3.1(')(plasmid was named pCIA-H). The HindIII site was made so that an amino acid sequence of IFN-α2b was not changed.

[0221] 2) Preparation of Deduced HCV E2 Binding Regions of Each of CD81, Bovine Lactoferrin and Human Lactoferrin by Synthetic DNA

[0222] A synthetic DNA of a deduced HCV E2 binding region of each of CD81, bovine lactoferrin and human lactoferrin was prepared, and the DNA was cloned into pUC18. The deduced HCV E2 binding region of CD81 is shown in SEQ ID NO: 32; the deduced HCV E2 binding region of bovine lactoferrin is shown in SEQ ID NO: 33; and the deduced HCV E2 binding region of human lactoferrin is shown in SEQ ID NO: 34. A nucleotide sequence of each of the resulting clones was confirmed by sequencing.

[0223] 3) Ligation of IFN-α2b Gene with Each of Deduced HCV E2 Binding Regions of CD81, Bovine Lactoferrin and Human Lactoferrin

[0224] There was prepared a vector in which a HindIII fragment having 564 bp of γ phage as a stuffer sequence is once inserted into HindIII site of pCIA-H. The resulting vector was digested with AfIII and then digested with HindIII. Into the resulting product was inserted each of the DNA fragments encoding deduced HCV E2 binding regions of CD81, bovine lactoferrin and human lactoferrin, the DNA fragments resulting from digestion from the plasmid prepared in item 2) above with HindIII and AfIII. A nucleotide sequence of each of the resulting clones was confirmed by sequencing.

[0225] By the above procedures, there were prepared expression vectors (HCV-binding type IFN expression vectors) pCIA-CD81, pCIA-BLFN and pCIA-HLFN, resulting from fusion of each of deduced HCV E2 binding regions of human CD81, bovine lactoferrin and human lactoferrin to C-terminal of human IFN-α2b.

[0226] (3) Protein Synthesis by in vitro Transcription/Translation and Western Blot Analysis of IFN-α

[0227] Without using a radioactive isotope, protein synthesis was carried out by in vitro transcription/translation using TNT T7 coupled wheat germ extract system (manufactured by Promega), with pCIA, pCIA-CD81, pCIA-BLFN and pCIA-HLFN as a template. The resulting products were subjected to 15% SDS-PAGE. Thereafter, the proteins in the gel after electrophoresis were transferred to a membrane (Immobillon P, manufactured by Millipore Corporation). Western blot analysis was carried out by using the resulting membrane and an anti-IFN-α monoclonal antibody (clone MMHA-2, manufactured by PBL Biomedical). Here, the blocking in Western blot was carried out by using a blocking buffer [TBS-T (composition: 50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5), 15 mM NaCl, 0.05% Tween 20) containing 3% normal goat serum (Vector)]. In addition, a dilution prepared by 1000-fold-dilution of the anti-IFN-α t monoclonal antibody with a blocking buffer was used as a primary antibody, and a dilution obtained by 5000-fold-dilution of a peroxidase-labeled anti-mouse IgG goat antibody (manufactured by BIOSOURCE INTERNATIONAL) with a blocking buffer was used as a secondary antibody. Detection was made by using ECL Plus (manufactured by Amersham Pharmacia).

[0228] As shown in FIG. 16, it can be seen that IFN-α2b and HCV-binding type IFNs are synthesized with each plasmid as a template.

[0229] (4) Transient Expression in COS-1 Cells

[0230] COS-1 cells were transfected with each of pCIA, pCIA-CD81, pCIA-BLFN and pCIA-HLFN by using FuGENE6 (Roche Diagnostics GmbH). The culture after the transfection was carried out on DMEM medium without addition of an antibiotic and without addition of serum. Three days after the transfection, the culture supernatants were collected. To each of the culture supernatants, fresh medium was added, and the culture was continued. Six days after the transfection, the culture supernatants were collected.

[0231] The amount of the recombinant proteins produced in the culture supernatants were evaluated by using IFN-αELISA kit (manufactured by BIOSOURCE INTERNATIONAL). The results are shown in Table 1.

[0232] In addition, the recombinant proteins in the culture supernatants was subjected to Western blot analysis in the manner described above by using an anti-IFN-α monoclonal antibody (clone MMHA-2, PBL Biomedical). As shown in FIG. 17, it can be seen that each of IFN-α2b, IFN-α-CD81 fusion protein, IFN-α-bovine lactoferrin fusion protein and IFN-α-human lactoferrin fusion protein was detected in the culture supernatant of COS-1 cells transfected with each of pCIA, pCIA-CD81, PCIA-BLFN and pCIA-HLFN. By the above procedures, it was confirmed that IFN-α2b and HCV-binding type IFNs were transiently expressed in COS-1 cells. The interferon concentration in the resulting culture supernatants is shown in Table 1. When COS-1 cells were transfected with an empty vector pcDNA 3.1 to assay an anti-virus activity (described below), no anti-virus activity was found in the culture supernatant, so that it was confirmed that endogenous interferon is not induced. TABLE 1 Interferon Concentration in Culture Supernatant of Transfected COS-1 Cells Vector Day 3 Day 6 pCIA 936 ng/ml 173 ng/ml pCIA-BLFN 654 ng/ml 218 ng/ml pCIA-CD81 976 ng/ml 299 ng/ml pCIA-HLFN 258 ng/ml 110 ng/ml

[0233] (5) Anti-Virus Activity of Recombinant Protein

[0234] The anti-virus activities of IFN-α2b and HCV-binding type IFNs which had been prepared from transiently expressed in COS-1 cells were assayed by an assay system using the system for evaluating Sindbis virus-FL cells. Each of 200 IU/mL human interferon α2b (INTRON A, manufactured by Sherring-Plough/YAMANOUCHI PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD.) or the culture supernatants of COS-1 cells resulting from transient expression of IFN-α2b and HCV-binding type IFNs was two-fold serial dilution with a medium containing fetal bovine serum where 1000-fold dilution was regarded as a dilution fold 1. The resulting dilution was cultured together with the FL cells.

[0235] On the next day, Sindbis virus was added to the resulting culture, and the mixture was cultured for 2 days. Thereafter, the absorbance of the resulting culture at 595 nm was determined by Crystal Violet method. The determination was taken at n=2. In addition, at the same time, the FL cells alone were cultured as cell control, and the untreated FL cells added with Sindbis virus were cultured as virus control. The results are shown in FIG. 18 and FIG. 19.

[0236] It was confirmed from these results that IFN-α2b and HCV-binding type IFNs which had been transiently expressed in COS-1 cells have the anti-virus activity.

[0237] (6) Binding of HCV-Binding Type IFNs to HCV E2 Protein

[0238] There was evaluated the binding of IFN-α2b or HCV-binding type IFNs which had been transiently expressed in COS-1 cells to the baculovirus-derived recombinant GST-fusion HCV E2 protein (hereinafter referred to as GST-E2; manufactured by Immuno Diagnostics) by coprecipitation using Glutathione beads. Five microliters of GST-E2 (1 μg/μl) was mixed with 400 μl of the culture supernatant of COS-1 cells containing transiently expressed IFN-α2b or HCV-binding type IFNs, and were incubated at 4° C. for 1 hour. Glutathione Sepharose 4B (Amersham Pharmacia) which had been incubated in buffer TBS-X [composition: 50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 7.5), 150 mM NaCl, 0.1% Triton X-100] containing 3% BSA for 30 minutes was added to a mixture of the culture supernatant of COS-1 cells and GST-E2, and the aliquots were incubated overnight at 4° C. After centrifugation, the supernatants (non-binding fraction) were collected, and the precipitated Glutathione beads were washed five times with the above-mentioned TBS-X. A 2× sample buffer was added to a bound fraction Glutathione beads, and the aliquots were treated at 100° C. for 5 minutes. Thereafter, the supernatants obtained by centrifugation were subjected to Western blot analysis using an anti-IFN-α antibody. Similarly, the supernatants of the non-binding fraction were subjected to Western blot analysis. The Western blot analysis was carried out in the same manner as in item (3) above. As shown in FIG. 20, HCV-binding type IFNs were coprecipitated with GST-E2, but IFN-α2b was not. It was suggested from these results that HCV-binding type IFNs bind to GST-E2 although IFN-α2b itself does not bind to GST-E2.

EXAMPLE 6

[0239] Identification of Binding Sequence of HBV to Pre-S

[0240] A binding region was analyzed, on the bases of an amino acid sequence of duck-derived carboxypeptidase D of SEQ ID NO: 14, and an amino acid sequence of duck-derived glycine decarboxylase complex P protein of SEQ ID NO: 15, which had been reportedly bound to duck HBV pre-S antigen. In the case of duck-derived carboxypeptidase D, 25 amino acids including N-terminal signal sequence and a region of 1307th amino acid residue to 1333rd amino acid residue (amino acid NOs: 1307 to 1333 in the amino acid sequence disclosed in accession No. AF039749) have been considered to be important for binding to pre-S. In addition, in the duck-derived glycine decarboxylase complex P protein, a sequence consisting of 52nd amino acid residue to 94th amino acid residue (amino acid NOs: 52 to 94 in the amino acid sequence disclosed in accession No. AF137264), and a sequence consisting of 923rd amino acid residue to 1024th amino acid residue, the C-terminal (amino acid NOs: 923 to 1024 disclosed in the above-mentioned accession No. AF137264) are considered to be necessary for binding. Therefore, the homologies between the amino acid sequences of respective regions were studied. The results are shown in FIG. 5. In the study of the homologies of N-terminal side sequence, a homologous region 1, which is thought to include a signal peptide of carboxypeptidase D was selected. However, since a signal sequence usually consists of 11 to 13 amino acids, the homologous region 1 is hardly likely to be a binding region for HBV receptor. Probably, the LLP sequence of a homologous region 2 is thought to be important. In addition, in the analysis on C-terminal side, the homologies were found in a region consisting of 1313th amino acid residue to 1333rd amino acid residue of carboxypeptidase D (amino acid NOs: 1313 to 1333 in the amino acid sequence disclosed in accession No. AF039749) and a region consisting of 943rd amino acid residue to 963rd amino acid residue of glycine decarboxylase complex P protein (amino acid NOs: 943 to 963 in the amino acid sequence disclosed in accession No. AF137264). Next, when a secondary structure of each homologous region was predicted, especially in the analysis of a similar region on C-terminal side, it was clarified that only in the region where identical amino acids are present in a large number takes the same tertiary structure. The results of prediction of the secondary structure are shown in FIG. 6.

[0241] A binding region to duck HBV obtained in each duck-derived gene was compared with an amino acid sequence of human-derived carboxypeptidase D of SEQ ID NO: 16 and an amino acid sequence of human-derived glycine decarboxylase complex P protein of SEQ ID NO: 17. The evaluation results for homologies of each of the genes of duck and human are shown in FIG. 7, FIG. 8 and FIG. 9. Although the high homologies were not found in a region which is thought to be an HBV-binding region of each carboxypeptidase D, other regions were well conserved in duck and human genes. Binding deduced regions for HBV are shown in FIG. 7, FIG. 8 and FIG. 9. It is deduced from the results that a region acquiring the affinity for HBV is C-terminal side sequence.

[0242] Sequence Listing Free Text

[0243] SEQ ID NO: 23 shows a sequence of a synthesized peptide of human CD81- derived peptide TAPA148.

[0244] SEQ ID NO: 24 shows a sequence of a synthesized peptide of bovine lactoferrin-derived peptide bLF443.

[0245] SEQ ID NO: 25 shows a sequence of a synthesized peptide of human lactoferrin-derived peptide hLF445.

[0246] SEQ ID NO: 26 shows a sequence of a synthesized peptide of human LDL receptor-derived peptide hLDLR194.

[0247] SEQ ID NO: 27 shows a sequence of a synthesized peptide of human LDL receptor-derived peptide hLDLR220.

[0248] SEQ ID NO: 28 shows a sequence of a synthesized peptide of bovine lactoferrin-derived cyclic peptide cbLF445.

[0249] SEQ ID NO: 29 shows a sequence of a synthesized oligonucleotide for interferon-α2b-specific primer U-2.

[0250] SEQ ID NO: 30 shows a sequence of a synthesized oligonucleotide for interferon-α2b-specific primer L2.

[0251] SEQ ID NO: 31 shows a sequence of a synthesized oligonucleotide for H3TER primer.

[0252] SEQ ID NO: 32 shows a sequence of a synthesized nucleotide having a sequence corresponding to the deduced HCV E2 binding region in CD81.

[0253] SEQ ID NO: 33 shows a sequence of a synthesized nucleotide having a sequence corresponding to the deduced HCV E2 binding region in bovine lactoferrin.

[0254] SEQ ID NO: 34 shows a sequence of a synthesized nucleotide having a sequence corresponding to the deduced HCV E2 binding region in human lactoferrin.

Industrial Applicability

[0255] According to the prophylactic or therapeutic agent for chronic hepatitis of the present invention, it is considered that the binding of hepatitis virus, especially hepatitis C virus or hepatitis B virus, to a target cell is inhibited. Therefore, there are exhibited excellent effects that chronic hepatitis can be prevented or treated. Therefore, in the interferon treatment method for chronic type-C and type-C hepatitis, there are even more expected that the viral clearance ratio at the termination of the interferon administration can be improved by the suppression of the infection on a target cell for hepatitis virus. The improvement in the clearance ratio of the hepatitis virus at the termination of the interferon according to the present invention is clinically very effective, from the viewpoints such that the improvement not only leads to an increase in complete responders but also that the development of hepatocellular carcinoma can be suppressed.

1 50 1 45 PRT Homo sapiens 1 His Glu Thr Leu Asp Cys Cys Gly Ser Ser Thr Leu Thr Ala Leu Thr 1 5 10 15 Thr Ser Val Leu Lys Asn Asn Leu Cys Pro Ser Gly Ser Asn Ile Ile 20 25 30 Ser Asn Leu Phe Lys Glu Asp Cys His Gln Lys Ile Asp 35 40 45 2 43 PRT Bos taurus 2 His Ser Ser Leu Asp Cys Val Leu Arg Pro Thr Glu Gly Tyr Leu Ala 1 5 10 15 Val Ala Val Val Lys Lys Ala Asn Glu Gly Leu Thr Trp Asn Ser Leu 20 25 30 Lys Asp Lys Lys Ser Cys His Thr Ala Val Asp 35 40 3 43 PRT Homo sapiens 3 Asp Pro Asp Pro Asn Cys Val Asp Arg Pro Val Glu Gly Tyr Leu Ala 1 5 10 15 Val Ala Val Val Arg Arg Ser Asp Thr Ser Leu Thr Trp Asn Ser Val 20 25 30 Lys Gly Lys Lys Ser Cys His Thr Ala Val Asp 35 40 4 135 DNA Homo sapiens 4 cacgagacgc ttgactgctg tggctccagc acactgactg ctttgaccac ctcagtgctc 60 aagaacaatt tgtgtccctc gggcagcaac atcatcagca acctcttcaa ggaggactgc 120 caccagaaga tcgat 135 5 129 DNA Bos taurus 5 cacagtagcc tagattgtgt gctgagacca acggaagggt accttgccgt ggcagttgtc 60 aagaaagcaa atgaggggct cacatggaat tctctgaaag acaagaagtc gtgccacacc 120 gccgtggac 129 6 129 DNA Homo sapiens 6 gaccctgatc ctaactgtgt ggatagacct gtggaaggat atcttgctgt ggcggtggtt 60 aggagatcag acactagcct tacctggaac tctgtgaaag gcaagaagtc ctgccacacc 120 gccgtggac 129 7 236 PRT Homo sapiens 7 Met Gly Val Glu Gly Cys Thr Lys Cys Ile Lys Tyr Leu Leu Phe Val 1 5 10 15 Phe Asn Phe Val Phe Trp Leu Ala Gly Gly Val Ile Leu Gly Val Ala 20 25 30 Leu Trp Leu Arg His Asp Pro Gln Thr Thr Asn Leu Leu Tyr Leu Glu 35 40 45 Leu Gly Asp Lys Pro Ala Pro Asn Thr Phe Tyr Val Gly Ile Tyr Ile 50 55 60 Leu Ile Ala Val Gly Ala Val Met Met Phe Val Gly Phe Leu Gly Cys 65 70 75 80 Tyr Gly Ala Ile Gln Glu Ser Gln Cys Leu Leu Gly Thr Phe Phe Thr 85 90 95 Cys Leu Val Ile Leu Phe Ala Cys Glu Val Ala Ala Gly Ile Trp Gly 100 105 110 Phe Val Asn Lys Asp Gln Ile Ala Lys Asp Val Lys Gln Phe Tyr Asp 115 120 125 Gln Ala Leu Gln Gln Ala Val Val Asp Asp Asp Ala Asn Asn Ala Lys 130 135 140 Ala Val Val Lys Thr Phe His Glu Thr Leu Asp Cys Cys Gly Ser Ser 145 150 155 160 Thr Leu Thr Ala Leu Thr Thr Ser Val Leu Lys Asn Asn Leu Cys Pro 165 170 175 Ser Gly Ser Asn Ile Ile Ser Asn Leu Phe Lys Glu Asp Cys His Gln 180 185 190 Lys Ile Asp Asp Leu Phe Ser Gly Lys Leu Tyr Leu Ile Gly Ile Ala 195 200 205 Ala Ile Val Val Ala Val Ile Met Ile Phe Glu Met Ile Leu Ser Met 210 215 220 Val Leu Cys Cys Gly Ile Arg Asn Ser Ser Val Tyr 225 230 235 8 708 PRT Bos taurus 8 Met Lys Leu Phe Val Pro Ala Leu Leu Ser Leu Gly Ala Leu Gly Leu 1 5 10 15 Cys Leu Ala Ala Pro Arg Lys Asn Val Arg Trp Cys Thr Ile Ser Gln 20 25 30 Pro Glu Trp Phe Lys Cys Arg Arg Trp Gln Trp Arg Met Lys Lys Leu 35 40 45 Gly Ala Pro Ser Ile Thr Cys Val Arg Arg Ala Phe Ala Leu Glu Cys 50 55 60 Ile Pro Gly Ile Ala Glu Lys Lys Ala Asp Ala Val Thr Leu Asp Gly 65 70 75 80 Gly Met Val Phe Glu Ala Gly Arg Asp Pro Tyr Lys Leu Arg Pro Val 85 90 95 Ala Ala Glu Ile Tyr Gly Thr Lys Glu Ser Pro Gln Thr His Tyr Tyr 100 105 110 Ala Val Ala Val Val Lys Lys Gly Ser Asn Phe Gln Leu Asp Gln Leu 115 120 125 Gln Gly Arg Lys Ser Cys His Thr Gly Leu Gly Arg Ser Ala Gly Trp 130 135 140 Ile Ile Pro Met Gly Ile Leu Arg Pro Tyr Leu Ser Trp Thr Glu Ser 145 150 155 160 Leu Glu Pro Leu Gln Gly Ala Val Ala Lys Phe Phe Ser Ala Ser Cys 165 170 175 Val Pro Cys Ile Asp Arg Gln Ala Tyr Pro Asn Leu Cys Gln Leu Cys 180 185 190 Lys Gly Glu Gly Glu Asn Gln Cys Ala Cys Ser Ser Arg Glu Pro Tyr 195 200 205 Phe Gly Tyr Ser Gly Ala Phe Lys Cys Leu Gln Asp Gly Ala Gly Asp 210 215 220 Val Ala Phe Val Lys Glu Thr Thr Val Phe Glu Asn Leu Pro Glu Lys 225 230 235 240 Ala Asp Arg Asp Gln Tyr Glu Leu Leu Cys Leu Asn Asn Ser Arg Ala 245 250 255 Pro Val Asp Ala Phe Lys Glu Cys His Leu Ala Gln Val Pro Ser His 260 265 270 Ala Val Val Ala Arg Ser Val Asp Gly Lys Glu Asp Leu Ile Trp Lys 275 280 285 Leu Leu Ser Lys Ala Gln Glu Lys Ser Gly Lys Asn Lys Ser Arg Ser 290 295 300 Phe Gln Leu Phe Gly Ser Pro Pro Gly Gln Arg Asp Leu Leu Phe Lys 305 310 315 320 Asp Ser Ala Leu Gly Phe Leu Arg Ile Pro Ser Lys Val Asp Ser Ala 325 330 335 Leu Tyr Leu Gly Ser Arg Tyr Leu Thr Thr Leu Lys Asn Leu Arg Glu 340 345 350 Thr Ala Glu Glu Val Lys Ala Arg Tyr Thr Arg Val Val Trp Cys Ala 355 360 365 Val Gly Pro Glu Glu Gln Lys Lys Cys Gln Gln Trp Ser Gln Gln Ser 370 375 380 Gly Gln Asn Val Thr Cys Ala Thr Ala Ser Thr Thr Asp Asp Cys Ile 385 390 395 400 Val Leu Val Leu Lys Gly Glu Ala Asp Ala Leu Asn Leu Asp Gly Gly 405 410 415 Tyr Ile Tyr Thr Ala Gly Lys Cys Gly Leu Val Pro Val Leu Ala Glu 420 425 430 Asn Arg Lys Ser Ser Lys His Ser Ser Leu Asp Cys Val Leu Arg Pro 435 440 445 Thr Glu Gly Tyr Leu Ala Val Ala Val Val Lys Lys Ala Asn Glu Gly 450 455 460 Leu Thr Trp Asn Ser Leu Lys Asp Lys Lys Ser Cys His Thr Ala Val 465 470 475 480 Asp Arg Thr Ala Gly Trp Asn Ile Pro Met Gly Leu Ile Val Asn Gln 485 490 495 Thr Gly Ser Cys Ala Phe Asp Glu Phe Phe Ser Gln Ser Cys Ala Pro 500 505 510 Gly Ala Asp Pro Lys Ser Arg Leu Cys Ala Leu Cys Ala Gly Asp Asp 515 520 525 Gln Gly Leu Asp Lys Cys Val Pro Asn Ser Lys Glu Lys Tyr Tyr Gly 530 535 540 Tyr Thr Gly Ala Phe Arg Cys Leu Ala Glu Asp Val Gly Asp Val Ala 545 550 555 560 Phe Val Lys Asn Asp Thr Val Trp Glu Asn Thr Asn Gly Glu Ser Thr 565 570 575 Ala Asp Trp Ala Lys Asn Leu Asn Arg Glu Asp Phe Arg Leu Leu Cys 580 585 590 Leu Asp Gly Thr Arg Lys Pro Val Thr Glu Ala Gln Ser Cys His Leu 595 600 605 Ala Val Ala Pro Asn His Ala Val Val Ser Arg Ser Asp Arg Ala Ala 610 615 620 His Val Lys Gln Val Leu Leu His Gln Gln Ala Leu Phe Gly Lys Asn 625 630 635 640 Gly Lys Asn Cys Pro Asp Lys Phe Cys Leu Phe Lys Ser Glu Thr Lys 645 650 655 Asn Leu Leu Phe Asn Asp Asn Thr Glu Cys Leu Ala Lys Leu Gly Gly 660 665 670 Arg Pro Thr Tyr Glu Glu Tyr Leu Gly Thr Glu Tyr Val Thr Ala Ile 675 680 685 Ala Asn Leu Lys Lys Cys Ser Thr Ser Pro Leu Leu Glu Ala Cys Ala 690 695 700 Phe Leu Thr Arg 705 9 711 PRT Homo sapiens 9 Met Lys Leu Val Phe Leu Val Leu Leu Phe Leu Gly Ala Leu Gly Leu 1 5 10 15 Cys Leu Ala Gly Arg Arg Arg Arg Ser Val Gln Trp Cys Ala Val Ser 20 25 30 Gln Pro Glu Ala Thr Lys Cys Phe Gln Trp Gln Arg Asn Met Arg Lys 35 40 45 Val Arg Gly Pro Pro Val Ser Cys Ile Lys Arg Asp Ser Pro Ile Gln 50 55 60 Cys Ile Gln Ala Ile Ala Glu Asn Arg Ala Asp Ala Val Thr Leu Asp 65 70 75 80 Gly Gly Phe Ile Tyr Glu Ala Gly Leu Ala Pro Tyr Lys Leu Arg Pro 85 90 95 Val Ala Ala Glu Val Tyr Gly Thr Glu Arg Gln Pro Arg Thr His Tyr 100 105 110 Tyr Ala Val Ala Val Val Lys Lys Gly Gly Ser Phe Gln Leu Asn Glu 115 120 125 Leu Gln Gly Leu Lys Ser Cys His Thr Gly Leu Arg Arg Thr Ala Gly 130 135 140 Trp Asn Val Pro Thr Gly Thr Leu Arg Pro Phe Leu Asn Trp Thr Gly 145 150 155 160 Pro Pro Glu Pro Ile Glu Ala Ala Val Ala Arg Phe Phe Ser Ala Ser 165 170 175 Cys Val Pro Gly Ala Asp Lys Gly Gln Phe Pro Asn Leu Cys Arg Leu 180 185 190 Cys Ala Gly Thr Gly Glu Asn Lys Cys Ala Phe Ser Ser Gln Glu Pro 195 200 205 Tyr Phe Ser Tyr Ser Gly Ala Phe Lys Cys Leu Arg Asp Gly Ala Gly 210 215 220 Asp Val Ala Phe Ile Arg Glu Ser Thr Val Phe Glu Asp Leu Ser Asp 225 230 235 240 Glu Ala Glu Arg Asp Glu Tyr Glu Leu Leu Cys Pro Asp Asn Thr Arg 245 250 255 Lys Pro Val Asp Lys Phe Lys Asp Cys His Leu Ala Arg Val Pro Ser 260 265 270 His Ala Val Val Ala Arg Ser Val Asn Gly Lys Glu Asp Ala Ile Trp 275 280 285 Asn Leu Leu Arg Gln Ala Gln Glu Lys Phe Gly Lys Asp Lys Ser Pro 290 295 300 Lys Phe Gln Leu Phe Gly Ser Pro Ser Gly Gln Lys Asp Leu Leu Phe 305 310 315 320 Lys Asp Ser Ala Ile Gly Phe Ser Arg Val Pro Pro Arg Ile Asp Ser 325 330 335 Gly Leu Tyr Leu Gly Ser Gly Tyr Phe Thr Ala Ile Gln Asn Leu Arg 340 345 350 Lys Ser Glu Glu Glu Val Ala Ala Arg Arg Ala Arg Val Val Trp Cys 355 360 365 Ala Val Gly Glu Gln Glu Leu Arg Lys Cys Asn Gln Trp Ser Gly Leu 370 375 380 Ser Glu Gly Ser Val Thr Cys Ser Ser Ala Ser Thr Thr Glu Asp Cys 385 390 395 400 Ile Ala Leu Val Leu Lys Gly Glu Ala Asp Ala Met Ser Leu Asp Gly 405 410 415 Gly Tyr Val Tyr Thr Ala Cys Lys Cys Gly Leu Val Pro Val Leu Ala 420 425 430 Glu Asn Tyr Lys Ser Gln Gln Ser Ser Asp Pro Asp Pro Asn Cys Val 435 440 445 Asp Arg Pro Val Glu Gly Tyr Leu Ala Val Ala Val Val Arg Arg Ser 450 455 460 Asp Thr Ser Leu Thr Trp Asn Ser Val Lys Gly Lys Lys Ser Cys His 465 470 475 480 Thr Ala Val Asp Arg Thr Ala Gly Trp Asn Ile Pro Met Gly Leu Leu 485 490 495 Phe Asn Gln Thr Gly Ser Cys Lys Phe Asp Glu Tyr Phe Ser Gln Ser 500 505 510 Cys Ala Pro Gly Ser Asp Pro Arg Ser Asn Leu Cys Ala Leu Cys Ile 515 520 525 Gly Asp Glu Gln Gly Glu Asn Lys Cys Val Pro Asn Ser Asn Glu Arg 530 535 540 Tyr Tyr Gly Tyr Thr Gly Ala Phe Arg Cys Leu Ala Glu Asn Ala Gly 545 550 555 560 Asp Val Ala Phe Val Lys Asp Val Thr Val Leu Gln Asn Thr Asp Gly 565 570 575 Asn Asn Asn Glu Ala Trp Ala Lys Asp Leu Lys Leu Ala Asp Phe Ala 580 585 590 Leu Leu Cys Leu Asp Gly Lys Arg Lys Pro Val Thr Glu Ala Arg Ser 595 600 605 Cys His Leu Ala Met Ala Pro Asn His Ala Val Val Ser Arg Met Asp 610 615 620 Lys Val Glu Arg Leu Lys Gln Val Leu Leu His Gln Gln Ala Lys Phe 625 630 635 640 Gly Arg Asn Gly Ser Asp Cys Pro Asp Lys Phe Cys Leu Phe Gln Ser 645 650 655 Glu Thr Lys Asn Leu Leu Phe Asn Asp Asn Thr Glu Cys Leu Ala Arg 660 665 670 Leu His Gly Lys Thr Thr Tyr Glu Lys Tyr Leu Gly Pro Gln Tyr Val 675 680 685 Ala Gly Ile Thr Asn Leu Lys Lys Cys Ser Thr Ser Pro Leu Leu Glu 690 695 700 Ala Cys Glu Phe Leu Arg Lys 705 710 10 21 PRT Homo sapiens 10 Gly Ala Thr Met Ser Ala Leu Ile Leu Thr Ala Cys Ile Ile Trp Cys 1 5 10 15 Ile Cys Ser Ile Lys 20 11 21 PRT Homo sapiens 11 Asp Pro Arg Val Asn Pro Leu Lys Met Ser Pro His Ser Leu Thr Cys 1 5 10 15 Val Thr Ser Ser His 20 12 63 DNA Homo sapiens 12 gaccccaggg tcaatccgct gaagatgtct ccacactccc tgacctgcgt tacatcttcc 60 cac 63 13 63 DNA Homo sapiens 13 gaccccaggg tcaatccgct gaagatgtct ccacactccc tgacctgcgt tacatcttcc 60 cac 63 14 1387 PRT Anas platyrhynchos 14 Met Ala Gly Ala Ala Arg Gly Leu Leu Trp Ala Ala Leu Ser Leu Cys 1 5 10 15 Leu Leu Pro Glu Pro Leu Arg Ala Ala His Ile Lys Lys Ala Glu Ala 20 25 30 Ala Ala Ala Gly Gly Gly Gly Gly Gly Val Gly Gly Glu Leu Arg Tyr 35 40 45 Leu His Ala Ala Glu Leu Gly Gln Ala Leu Arg Asp Leu Val Ala Glu 50 55 60 Ala Pro Pro Gly Leu Ala Arg Leu Phe Ser Ile Gly Arg Ser Val Glu 65 70 75 80 Gly Arg Pro Leu Trp Val Leu Arg Leu Thr Ala Gly Leu Pro Glu Leu 85 90 95 Pro Glu Ala Arg Gln Asp Gly Glu Lys Lys Lys Lys Glu Glu Glu Glu 100 105 110 Glu Glu Glu Glu Glu Gly Glu Glu Gly Gly Gly Gly Ala Leu Pro Gly 115 120 125 Arg Pro Gln Val Lys Leu Val Gly Asn Met His Gly Asp Glu Pro Leu 130 135 140 Ala Arg Pro Leu Leu Leu Arg Leu Ala Gln Glu Leu Val Arg Gly Trp 145 150 155 160 Ala Gly Gly Asp Glu Arg Leu Gly Arg Leu Leu Asn Thr Thr Asp Leu 165 170 175 Tyr Leu Leu Pro Ser Leu Asn Pro Asp Gly Phe Glu Arg Ala Arg Glu 180 185 190 Gly Asp Cys Gly Gly Gly Gly Gly Gly Glu Gly Gly Gly Glu Pro Gly 195 200 205 Gly Arg Glu Asn Ser Arg Gly Arg Asp Leu Asn Arg Ser Phe Pro Asp 210 215 220 Gln Phe Gly Ser Ala Gln Pro Asp Leu Glu Pro Val Pro Glu Val Arg 225 230 235 240 Ala Leu Ile Ala Trp Met Arg Arg Asn Lys Phe Leu Leu Ser Gly Asn 245 250 255 Leu His Gly Gly Ser Val Val Ala Ser Tyr Pro Tyr Asp Asp Ser Pro 260 265 270 Thr His Arg Pro Thr Gly Val Tyr Ser Lys Ser Ala Asp Asp Glu Val 275 280 285 Phe Lys Tyr Leu Ala Lys Ala Tyr Ala Ser His His Pro Ile Met Arg 290 295 300 Thr Gly Lys Pro Asn Cys Pro Gly Glu Glu Gly Glu Thr Phe Gln Asp 305 310 315 320 Gly Ile Thr Asn Gly Ala Gln Trp Tyr Asp Val Glu Gly Gly Met Gln 325 330 335 Asp Tyr Asn Tyr Val Trp Ala Asn Cys Phe Glu Ile Thr Leu Glu Leu 340 345 350 Ser Cys Cys Lys Tyr Pro Pro Thr Ser Glu Leu Gln Gln Glu Trp Glu 355 360 365 Asn Asn Arg Glu Ser Leu Leu Thr Phe Ile Glu Lys Val His Ile Gly 370 375 380 Val Lys Gly Tyr Val Arg Asp Ala Ile Thr Gly Ala Gly Leu Glu Asn 385 390 395 400 Ala Thr Ile Val Val Ala Gly Ile Ala His Asn Ile Thr Ala Gly Lys 405 410 415 Phe Gly Asp Tyr His Arg Leu Leu Val Pro Gly Thr Tyr Asn Val Thr 420 425 430 Ala Val Val Met Gly Tyr Ala Pro Val Thr Lys Glu Asn Ile Glu Val 435 440 445 Lys Glu Gly Asp Ala Thr Val Val Asp Phe Ser Leu Gln Pro Thr Val 450 455 460 Val Ala Pro Asp Pro Asn Leu Thr Gln Phe Thr Ala Thr Pro Ala Pro 465 470 475 480 Leu Ser Thr Leu Thr Pro Ser Val Ala Gln Ala Glu Pro Pro Ala Thr 485 490 495 Thr Ser Leu His Arg Ala Val Gln Pro Val Asp Phe Arg His His His 500 505 510 Phe Ser Asp Met Glu Ile Phe Leu Arg Arg Tyr Ala Asn Glu Tyr Pro 515 520 525 Ser Ile Thr Arg Leu Tyr Ser Val Gly Lys Ser Val Glu Leu Arg Glu 530 535 540 Leu Tyr Val Met Glu Ile Ser Asp Asn Pro Gly Val His Glu Ala Gly 545 550 555 560 Glu Pro Glu Phe Lys Tyr Ile Gly Asn Met His Gly Asn Glu Val Val 565 570 575 Gly Arg Glu Leu Leu Leu Asn Leu Ile Glu Tyr Leu Cys Lys Asn Phe 580 585 590 Gly Thr Asp Pro Glu Val Thr Asp Leu Val Gln Ser Thr Arg Ile His 595 600 605 Ile Met Pro Ser Met Asn Pro Asp Gly Tyr Glu Lys Ser Gln Glu Gly 610 615 620 Asp Arg Gly Gly Thr Val Gly Arg Asn Asn Ser Asn Asn Tyr Asp Leu 625 630 635 640 Asn Arg Asn Phe Pro Asp Gln Phe Phe Gln Val Thr Asp Pro Pro Gln 645 650 655 Pro Glu Thr Leu Ala Val Met Ser Trp Leu Lys Thr Tyr Pro Phe Val 660 665 670 Leu Ser Ala Asn Leu His Gly Gly Ser Leu Val Val Asn Tyr Pro Phe 675 680 685 Asp Asp Asp Glu Gln Gly Ile Ala Ile Tyr Ser Lys Ser Pro Asp Asp 690 695 700 Ala Val Phe Gln Gln Leu Ala Leu Ser Tyr Ser Lys Glu Asn Lys Lys 705 710 715 720 Met Tyr Gln Gly Ser Pro Cys Lys Asp Leu Tyr Pro Thr Glu Tyr Phe 725 730 735 Pro His Gly Ile Thr Asn Gly Ala Gln Trp Tyr Asn Val Pro Gly Gly 740 745 750 Met Gln Asp Trp Asn Tyr Leu Asn Thr Asn Cys Phe Glu Val Thr Ile 755 760 765 Glu Leu Gly Cys Val Lys Tyr Pro Lys Ala Glu Glu Leu Pro Lys Tyr 770 775 780 Trp Glu Gln Asn Arg Arg Ser Leu Leu Gln Phe Ile Lys Gln Val His 785 790 795 800 Arg Gly Ile Trp Gly Phe Val Leu Asp Ala Thr Asp Gly Arg Gly Ile 805 810 815 Leu Asn Ala Thr Ile Ser Val Ala Asp Ile Asn His Pro Val Thr Thr 820 825 830 Tyr Lys Asp Gly Asp Tyr Trp Arg Leu Leu Val Gln Gly Thr Tyr Lys 835 840 845 Val Thr Ala Ser Ala Arg Gly Tyr Asp Pro Val Thr Lys Thr Val Glu 850 855 860 Val Asp Ser Lys Gly Gly Val Gln Val Asn Phe Thr Leu Ser Arg Thr 865 870 875 880 Asp Ala Lys Val Glu Glu Gly Lys Val Pro Val Leu Asn Thr Pro Asp 885 890 895 Thr Ser Asp Pro Asn Glu Lys Glu Phe Glu Thr Leu Ile Lys Asp Leu 900 905 910 Ser Ala Glu Asn Gly Leu Glu Arg Leu Leu Leu Ala Ser Ser Gly Lys 915 920 925 Val Ser Pro Tyr Arg Tyr Arg Pro Tyr Lys Asp Leu Ser Glu Phe Leu 930 935 940 Arg Gly Leu Tyr Leu Asn Tyr Pro His Ile Thr Asn Leu Thr Ser Leu 945 950 955 960 Gly Gln Ser Val Glu Phe Arg Gln Ile Trp Ser Leu Glu Ile Ser Asn 965 970 975 Lys Pro Asn His Ser Glu Pro Glu Glu Pro Lys Ile Arg Phe Val Ala 980 985 990 Gly Ile His Gly Asn Ala Pro Val Gly Thr Glu Leu Leu Leu Ala Leu 995 1000 1005 Ala Glu Phe Leu Cys Met Asn Tyr Lys Lys Asn Ser Ala Val Thr Lys 1010 1015 1020 Leu Ile Asp Arg Thr Arg Ile Val Ile Val Pro Ser Leu Asn Pro Asp 1025 1030 1035 1040 Gly Arg Glu Ile Ala Gln Glu Arg Gly Cys Thr Ser Lys Leu Gly His 1045 1050 1055 Ala Asn Ala His Gly Arg Asp Leu Asp Thr Asp Phe Thr Ser Asn Tyr 1060 1065 1070 Ser Arg Tyr Ser Gly Thr Arg Glu Pro Glu Thr Lys Ala Ile Ile Glu 1075 1080 1085 Asn Leu Ile Leu Lys Gln Asp Phe Ser Leu Ser Val Ala Leu Asp Gly 1090 1095 1100 Gly Ser Leu Leu Val Thr Tyr Pro Phe Asp Lys Pro Ala Gln Thr Val 1105 1110 1115 1120 Glu Asn Lys Asp Thr Leu Lys His Leu Ala Ser Val Tyr Ala Asn Asn 1125 1130 1135 His Pro Leu Met His Leu Gly Gln Pro Gly Cys Pro Asn Lys Ser Asp 1140 1145 1150 Glu Asn Ile Pro Gly Gly Val Ile Arg Gly Ser Glu Trp His Ser His 1155 1160 1165 Leu Gly Ser Met Lys Asp Phe Ser Val Thr Phe Gly His Cys Pro Glu 1170 1175 1180 Ile Thr Val Tyr Thr Ser Cys Cys Tyr Phe Pro Ser Ala Gly Gln Leu 1185 1190 1195 1200 Pro Gly Leu Trp Ala Asp His Arg Lys Ser Leu Leu Ser Met Leu Val 1205 1210 1215 Glu Val His Lys Gly Val His Gly Phe Val Gln Asp Lys Ser Gly Lys 1220 1225 1230 Ala Ile Ser Lys Ala Thr Ile Val Leu Asn Glu Gly Leu Arg Val Tyr 1235 1240 1245 Thr Lys Glu Gly Gly Tyr Phe His Val Leu Leu Ala Pro Gly Leu His 1250 1255 1260 Asn Ile Asn Ala Ile Ala Asp Gly Tyr Gln Gln Lys His Met Lys Val 1265 1270 1275 1280 Leu Val Arg His Asp Ala Pro Ser Ser Val Phe Ile Val Phe Asp Met 1285 1290 1295 Glu Asn Arg Ile Phe Gly Leu Pro Arg Glu Leu Val Val Thr Val Ala 1300 1305 1310 Gly Ala Ser Met Ser Ala Leu Val Leu Thr Ala Cys Ile Ile Trp Cys 1315 1320 1325 Val Cys Ser Ile Lys Ser Asn Arg His Lys Asp Gly Phe Pro Thr Leu 1330 1335 1340 Arg Gln His His Asp Asp Tyr Glu Asp Glu Ile Arg Met Met Ser Thr 1345 1350 1355 1360 Gly Ser Lys Lys Ser Leu Leu Ser His Glu Phe Gln Asp Glu Thr Asp 1365 1370 1375 Thr Glu Glu Glu Thr Leu Tyr Ser Ser Lys His 1380 1385 15 1024 PRT Anas platyrhynchos 15 Met Arg Leu Ser Leu Phe Ile Ser Asp Ala Ala Arg Gly Gly Pro Arg 1 5 10 15 His Leu Arg Pro Ala Gly Gly Gly Gly Gln His Arg Gln Gln Gln His 20 25 30 Asn Gln Gln Gln Gln Arg Trp Val Gly Gly Gly Gly Gly Gly Gly Gly 35 40 45 Gly Gly Gly Glu Ala Ala Arg Cys Ile Glu Gln Leu Leu Pro Arg His 50 55 60 Asp Asp Phe Ser Arg Arg His Ile Gly Pro Arg Glu Gly Glu Lys Arg 65 70 75 80 Glu Met Leu Arg Ala Leu Gly Val Gln Ser Val Glu Glu Leu Met Asp 85 90 95 Lys Ala Ile Pro Gly Ser Ile Arg Leu Arg Arg Pro Leu Arg Met Glu 100 105 110 Asp Pro Val Gly Glu Asn Glu Ile Leu Glu Thr Leu Tyr Asn Ile Ala 115 120 125 Ser Lys Asn Lys Ile Trp Arg Ser Tyr Ile Gly Met Gly Tyr Tyr Asn 130 135 140 Cys Ser Val Pro Gln Pro Ile Ala Arg Asn Leu Leu Glu Asn Ala Gly 145 150 155 160 Trp Val Thr Gln Tyr Thr Pro Tyr Gln Pro Glu Val Ser Gln Gly Arg 165 170 175 Leu Glu Ser Leu Leu Asn Tyr Gln Thr Met Val Cys Asp Ile Thr Gly 180 185 190 Met Asp Val Ala Asn Ala Ser Leu Leu Asp Glu Gly Thr Ala Ala Ala 195 200 205 Glu Ala Met Gln Leu Cys His Arg His Asn Lys Arg Arg Lys Phe Tyr 210 215 220 Val Asp Ser Arg Cys His Pro Gln Thr Ile Ala Val Val Gln Thr Arg 225 230 235 240 Ala Asn Tyr Thr Gly Val Ile Thr Glu Leu Lys Leu Pro His Glu Met 245 250 255 Asp Phe Ser Gly Lys Asp Val Ser Gly Val Leu Phe Gln Tyr Pro Asp 260 265 270 Thr Glu Gly Lys Val Glu Asp Phe Ser Glu Leu Val Glu Arg Ala His 275 280 285 Gln Asn Gly Thr Leu Ala Cys Cys Ala Thr Asp Leu Leu Ala Leu Cys 290 295 300 Ile Leu Lys Pro Pro Gly Glu Phe Gly Val Asp Val Val Leu Gly Ser 305 310 315 320 Ser Gln Arg Phe Gly Val Pro Leu Cys Tyr Gly Gly Pro His Ala Ala 325 330 335 Phe Phe Ala Val Lys Glu Asn Leu Val Arg Met Met Pro Gly Arg Met 340 345 350 Val Gly Val Thr Arg Asp Ala Asn Gly Lys Glu Val Tyr Arg Leu Ala 355 360 365 Leu Gln Thr Arg Glu Gln His Ile Arg Arg Asp Lys Ala Thr Ser Asn 370 375 380 Ile Cys Thr Ala Gln Ala Leu Leu Ala Asn Met Ala Ala Met Phe Gly 385 390 395 400 Val Tyr His Gly Ser Asp Gly Leu Arg Asp Ile Ala Arg Arg Val His 405 410 415 Asn Ala Thr Leu Ile Leu Ala Glu Gly Leu Arg Arg Ala Gly His Lys 420 425 430 Leu His His Asp Leu Phe Phe Asp Thr Leu Thr Val Thr Cys Gly Cys 435 440 445 Ser Val Lys Glu Val Leu Asp Arg Ala Ala Leu Arg Lys Ile Asn Phe 450 455 460 Arg Ile Tyr Ser Asp Gly Arg Leu Gly Val Ser Leu Asp Glu Thr Val 465 470 475 480 Ser Glu Lys Asp Leu Asp Asp Ile Leu Trp Ile Phe Gly Cys Glu Ser 485 490 495 Ser Ala Glu Leu Ile Ala Glu Gly Met Gly Glu Glu Thr Lys Gly Ile 500 505 510 Leu Ser Thr Pro Phe Lys Arg Thr Ser Lys Phe Leu Thr His Gln Val 515 520 525 Phe Asn Ser Tyr His Ser Glu Thr Asn Ile Val Arg Tyr Met Lys Arg 530 535 540 Leu Glu Asn Lys Asp Ile Ser Leu Val His Ser Met Ile Pro Leu Gly 545 550 555 560 Ser Cys Thr Met Lys Leu Asn Ser Ser Ala Glu Leu Ala Pro Ile Ser 565 570 575 Trp Lys Glu Phe Ala Asn Ile His Pro Phe Val Pro Leu Asp Gln Ala 580 585 590 Gln Gly Tyr Gln Gln Leu Phe Lys Asp Leu Glu Lys Asp Leu Cys Glu 595 600 605 Ile Thr Gly Tyr Asp Lys Ile Ser Phe Gln Pro Asn Ser Gly Ala Gln 610 615 620 Gly Glu Tyr Ala Gly Leu Ala Ala Ile Lys Ala Tyr Leu Asn Ala Lys 625 630 635 640 Gly Glu Arg His Arg Ser Val Cys Leu Ile Pro Arg Ser Ala His Gly 645 650 655 Thr Asn Pro Ala Ser Ala Gln Met Ala Gly Met Lys Ile Gln Pro Val 660 665 670 Glu Val Asp Lys Asn Gly Ser Ile Asp Ile Ser His Leu Lys Ala Met 675 680 685 Val Asp Lys His Lys Glu Asn Leu Ala Ala Ile Met Ile Thr Tyr Pro 690 695 700 Ser Thr Asn Gly Val Phe Glu Glu Glu Ile Gly Asp Val Cys Glu Leu 705 710 715 720 Ile His Lys Asn Gly Gly Gln Val Tyr Leu Asp Gly Ala Asn Met Asn 725 730 735 Ala Gln Val Gly Leu Cys Arg Pro Gly Asp Tyr Gly Ser Asp Val Ser 740 745 750 His Leu Asn Leu His Lys Thr Phe Cys Ile Pro His Gly Gly Gly Gly 755 760 765 Pro Gly Met Gly Pro Ile Gly Val Lys Lys His Leu Ala Pro Tyr Leu 770 775 780 Pro Thr His Pro Val Ile Lys Ile Gln Thr Asp Lys Asp Ala Cys Pro 785 790 795 800 Leu Gly Thr Val Ser Ala Ala Pro Trp Gly Ser Ser Ala Ile Leu Pro 805 810 815 Ile Ser Trp Val Tyr Ile Lys Thr Met Gly Ala Lys Gly Leu Lys His 820 825 830 Ala Ser Glu Val Ala Ile Leu Asn Ala Asn Tyr Met Ala Lys Arg Leu 835 840 845 Glu Lys His Tyr Lys Ile Leu Phe Arg Gly Val Arg Gly Tyr Val Ala 850 855 860 His Glu Phe Ile Leu Asp Thr Arg Pro Phe Lys Lys Thr Ala Asn Ile 865 870 875 880 Glu Ala Val Asp Leu Ala Lys Arg Leu Gln Asp Tyr Gly Phe His Ala 885 890 895 Pro Thr Met Ser Trp Pro Val Ala Gly Thr Leu Met Ile Glu Pro Thr 900 905 910 Glu Ser Glu Asp Lys Ala Glu Leu Asp Arg Phe Cys Asp Ala Met Ile 915 920 925 Ser Ile Arg Gln Glu Ile Ala Glu Ile Glu Glu Gly Arg Met Asp Pro 930 935 940 Gln Ile Asn Pro Leu Lys Met Ser Pro His Thr Leu Asn Cys Val Thr 945 950 955 960 Ser Ser Lys Trp Asp Arg Pro Tyr Ser Arg Glu Val Ala Ala Phe Pro 965 970 975 Leu Pro Phe Val Lys Pro Glu Ser Lys Phe Trp Pro Thr Ile Ala Arg 980 985 990 Ile Asp Asp Ile Tyr Gly Asp Gln His Leu Val Cys Thr Cys Pro Pro 995 1000 1005 Met Glu Ala Tyr Glu Ser Pro Phe Ser Glu Gln Lys Arg Ala Ser Ser 1010 1015 1020 16 1377 PRT Homo sapiens 16 Met Ala Ser Gly Arg Asp Glu Arg Pro His Cys Val Gly Arg Leu Leu 1 5 10 15 Leu Leu Met Cys Leu Leu Leu Leu Gly Ser Ser Ala Arg Ala Ala His 20 25 30 Ile Lys Lys Ala Glu Ala Thr Thr Thr Thr Thr Ser Ala Gly Ala Arg 35 40 45 Gly Arg Gly Gln Phe Asp Arg Tyr Tyr His Glu Glu Glu Leu Glu Ser 50 55 60 Ala Leu Arg Glu Ala Ala Ala Ala Gly Leu Pro Gly Leu Ala Arg Leu 65 70 75 80 Phe Ser Ile Gly Arg Ser Val Glu Gly Arg Pro Leu Trp Val Leu Arg 85 90 95 Leu Thr Ala Gly Leu Gly Ser Leu Ile Pro Glu Gly Asp Ala Gly Pro 100 105 110 Asp Ala Ala Gly Pro Asp Ala Ala Gly Pro Leu Leu Pro Gly Arg Pro 115 120 125 Gln Val Lys Leu Val Gly Asn Met His Gly Asp Glu Thr Val Ser Arg 130 135 140 Gln Val Leu Ile Tyr Leu Ala Arg Glu Leu Ala Ala Leu Pro Pro Gly 145 150 155 160 Asp Pro Arg Leu Val Arg Leu Leu Asn Thr Thr Asp Val Tyr Leu Leu 165 170 175 Pro Ser Leu Asn Pro Asp Gly Phe Glu Arg Ala Arg Glu Gly Asp Cys 180 185 190 Gly Phe Gly Asp Gly Gly Pro Ser Gly Ala Ser Gly Arg Asp Asn Ser 195 200 205 Arg Gly Arg Asp Leu Asn Arg Ser Phe Pro Asp Gln Phe Ser Thr Gly 210 215 220 Glu Pro Pro Ala Leu Asp Glu Val Pro Glu Val Arg Ala Leu Ile Glu 225 230 235 240 Trp Ile Arg Arg Asn Lys Phe Val Leu Ser Gly Asn Leu His Gly Gly 245 250 255 Ser Val Val Ala Ser Tyr Pro Phe Asp Asp Ser Pro Glu His Lys Ala 260 265 270 Thr Gly Ile Tyr Ser Lys Thr Ser Asp Asp Glu Val Phe Lys Tyr Leu 275 280 285 Ala Lys Ala Tyr Ala Ser Asn His Pro Ile Met Lys Thr Gly Glu Pro 290 295 300 His Cys Pro Gly Asp Glu Asp Glu Thr Phe Lys Asp Gly Ile Thr Asn 305 310 315 320 Gly Ala His Trp Tyr Asp Val Glu Gly Gly Met Gln Asp Tyr Asn Tyr 325 330 335 Val Trp Ala Asn Cys Phe Glu Ile Thr Leu Glu Leu Ser Cys Cys Lys 340 345 350 Tyr Pro Pro Ala Ser Gln Leu Arg Gln Glu Trp Glu Asn Asn Arg Glu 355 360 365 Ser Leu Ile Thr Leu Ile Glu Lys Val His Ile Gly Val Lys Gly Phe 370 375 380 Val Lys Asp Ser Ile Thr Gly Ser Gly Leu Glu Asn Ala Thr Ile Ser 385 390 395 400 Val Ala Gly Ile Asn His Asn Ile Thr Thr Gly Arg Phe Gly Asp Phe 405 410 415 Tyr Arg Leu Leu Val Pro Gly Thr Tyr Asn Leu Thr Val Val Leu Thr 420 425 430 Gly Tyr Met Pro Leu Thr Val Thr Asn Val Val Val Lys Glu Gly Pro 435 440 445 Ala Thr Glu Val Asp Phe Ser Leu Arg Pro Thr Val Thr Ser Val Ile 450 455 460 Pro Asp Thr Thr Glu Ala Val Ser Thr Ala Ser Thr Val Ala Ile Pro 465 470 475 480 Asn Ile Leu Ser Gly Thr Ser Ser Ser Cys Gln Pro Ile Gln Pro Lys 485 490 495 Asp Phe His His His His Phe Pro Asp Met Glu Ile Phe Leu Arg Arg 500 505 510 Phe Ala Asn Glu Tyr Pro Asn Ile Thr Arg Leu Tyr Ser Leu Gly Lys 515 520 525 Ser Val Glu Ser Arg Glu Leu Tyr Val Met Glu Ile Ser Asp Asn Pro 530 535 540 Gly Val His Glu Pro Gly Glu Pro Glu Phe Lys Tyr Ile Gly Asn Met 545 550 555 560 His Gly Asn Glu Val Val Gly Arg Glu Leu Leu Leu Asn Leu Ile Glu 565 570 575 Tyr Leu Cys Lys Asn Phe Gly Thr Asp Pro Glu Val Thr Asp Leu Val 580 585 590 His Asn Thr Arg Ile His Leu Met Pro Ser Met Asn Pro Asp Gly Tyr 595 600 605 Glu Lys Ser Gln Glu Gly Asp Ser Ile Ser Val Ile Gly Arg Asn Asn 610 615 620 Ser Asn Asn Phe Asp Leu Asn Arg Asn Phe Pro Asp Gln Phe Val Gln 625 630 635 640 Ile Thr Asp Pro Thr Gln Pro Glu Thr Ile Ala Val Met Ser Trp Met 645 650 655 Lys Ser Tyr Pro Phe Val Leu Ser Ala Asn Leu His Gly Gly Ser Leu 660 665 670 Val Val Asn Tyr Pro Phe Asp Asp Asp Glu Gln Gly Leu Ala Thr Tyr 675 680 685 Ser Lys Ser Pro Asp Asp Ala Val Phe Gln Gln Ile Ala Leu Ser Tyr 690 695 700 Ser Lys Glu Asn Ser Gln Met Phe Gln Gly Arg Pro Cys Lys Asn Met 705 710 715 720 Tyr Pro Asn Glu Tyr Phe Pro His Gly Ile Thr Asn Gly Ala Ser Trp 725 730 735 Tyr Asn Val Pro Gly Gly Met Gln Asp Trp Asn Tyr Leu Gln Thr Asn 740 745 750 Cys Phe Glu Val Thr Ile Glu Leu Gly Cys Val Lys Tyr Pro Leu Glu 755 760 765 Lys Glu Leu Pro Asn Phe Trp Glu Gln Asn Arg Arg Ser Leu Ile Gln 770 775 780 Phe Met Lys Gln Val His Gln Gly Val Arg Gly Phe Val Leu Asp Ala 785 790 795 800 Thr Asp Gly Arg Gly Ile Leu Asn Ala Thr Ile Ser Val Ala Glu Ile 805 810 815 Asn His Pro Val Thr Thr Tyr Lys Thr Gly Asp Tyr Trp Arg Leu Leu 820 825 830 Val Pro Gly Thr Tyr Lys Ile Thr Ala Ser Ala Arg Gly Tyr Asn Pro 835 840 845 Val Thr Lys Asn Val Thr Val Lys Ser Glu Gly Ala Ile Gln Val Asn 850 855 860 Phe Thr Leu Val Arg Ser Ser Thr Asp Ser Asn Asn Glu Ser Lys Lys 865 870 875 880 Gly Lys Gly Ala Ser Ser Ser Thr Asn Asp Ala Ser Asp Pro Thr Thr 885 890 895 Lys Glu Phe Glu Thr Leu Ile Lys Asp Leu Ser Ala Glu Asn Gly Leu 900 905 910 Glu Ser Leu Met Leu Arg Ser Ser Ser Asn Leu Ala Leu Ala Leu Tyr 915 920 925 Arg Tyr His Ser Tyr Lys Asp Leu Ser Glu Phe Leu Arg Gly Leu Val 930 935 940 Met Asn Tyr Pro His Ile Thr Asn Leu Thr Asn Leu Gly Gln Ser Thr 945 950 955 960 Glu Tyr Arg His Ile Trp Ser Leu Glu Ile Ser Asn Lys Pro Asn Val 965 970 975 Ser Glu Pro Glu Glu Pro Lys Ile Arg Phe Val Ala Gly Ile His Gly 980 985 990 Asn Ala Pro Val Gly Thr Glu Leu Leu Leu Ala Leu Ala Glu Phe Leu 995 1000 1005 Cys Leu Asn Tyr Lys Lys Asn Pro Ala Val Thr Gln Leu Val Asp Arg 1010 1015 1020 Thr Arg Ile Val Ile Val Pro Ser Leu Asn Pro Asp Gly Arg Glu Arg 1025 1030 1035 1040 Ala Gln Glu Lys Asp Cys Thr Ser Lys Ile Gly Gln Thr Asn Ala Arg 1045 1050 1055 Gly Lys Asp Leu Asp Thr Asp Phe Thr Asn Asn Ala Ser Gln Pro Glu 1060 1065 1070 Thr Lys Ala Ile Ile Glu Asn Leu Ile Gln Lys Gln Asn Phe Ser Leu 1075 1080 1085 Ser Val Ala Leu Asp Gly Gly Ser Met Leu Val Thr Tyr Pro Tyr Asp 1090 1095 1100 Lys Pro Val Gln Thr Val Glu Asn Lys Glu Thr Leu Lys His Leu Ala 1105 1110 1115 1120 Ser Leu Tyr Ala Asn Asn His Pro Ser Met His Met Gly Gln Pro Ser 1125 1130 1135 Cys Pro Asn Lys Ser Asp Glu Asn Ile Pro Gly Gly Val Met Arg Gly 1140 1145 1150 Ala Glu Trp His Ser His Leu Gly Ser Met Lys Asp Tyr Ser Val Thr 1155 1160 1165 Tyr Gly His Cys Pro Glu Ile Thr Val Tyr Thr Ser Cys Cys Tyr Phe 1170 1175 1180 Pro Ser Ala Ala Arg Leu Pro Ser Leu Trp Ala Asp Asn Lys Arg Ser 1185 1190 1195 1200 Leu Leu Ser Met Leu Val Glu Val His Lys Gly Val His Gly Phe Val 1205 1210 1215 Lys Asp Lys Thr Gly Lys Pro Ile Ser Lys Ala Val Ile Val Leu Asn 1220 1225 1230 Glu Gly Ile Lys Val Gln Thr Lys Glu Gly Gly Tyr Phe His Val Leu 1235 1240 1245 Leu Ala Pro Gly Val His Asn Ile Ile Ala Ile Ala Asp Gly Tyr Gln 1250 1255 1260 Gln Gln His Ser Gln Val Phe Val His His Asp Ala Ala Ser Ser Val 1265 1270 1275 1280 Val Ile Val Phe Asp Thr Asp Asn Arg Ile Phe Gly Leu Pro Arg Glu 1285 1290 1295 Leu Val Val Thr Val Ser Gly Ala Thr Met Ser Ala Leu Ile Leu Thr 1300 1305 1310 Ala Cys Ile Ile Trp Cys Ile Cys Ser Ile Lys Ser Asn Arg His Lys 1315 1320 1325 Asp Gly Phe His Arg Leu Arg Gln His His Asp Glu Tyr Glu Asp Glu 1330 1335 1340 Ile Arg Met Met Ser Thr Gly Ser Lys Lys Ser Leu Leu Ser His Glu 1345 1350 1355 1360 Phe Gln Asp Glu Thr Asp Thr Glu Glu Glu Thr Leu Tyr Ser Ser Lys 1365 1370 1375 His 17 1020 PRT Homo sapiens 17 Met Gln Ser Cys Ala Arg Ala Trp Gly Leu Arg Leu Gly Arg Gly Val 1 5 10 15 Gly Gly Gly Arg Arg Leu Ala Gly Gly Ser Gly Pro Cys Trp Ala Pro 20 25 30 Arg Ser Arg Asp Ser Ser Ser Gly Gly Gly Asp Ser Ala Ala Ala Gly 35 40 45 Ala Ser Arg Leu Leu Glu Arg Leu Leu Pro Arg His Asp Asp Phe Ala 50 55 60 Arg Arg His Ile Gly Pro Gly Asp Lys Asp Gln Arg Glu Met Leu Gln 65 70 75 80 Thr Leu Gly Leu Ala Ser Ile Asp Glu Leu Ile Glu Lys Thr Val Pro 85 90 95 Ala Asn Ile Arg Leu Lys Arg Pro Leu Lys Met Glu Asp Pro Val Cys 100 105 110 Glu Asn Glu Ile Leu Ala Thr Leu His Ala Ile Ser Ser Lys Asn Gln 115 120 125 Ile Trp Arg Ser Tyr Ile Gly Met Gly Tyr Tyr Asn Cys Ser Val Pro 130 135 140 Gln Thr Ile Leu Arg Asn Leu Leu Glu Asn Ser Gly Trp Ile Thr Gln 145 150 155 160 Tyr Thr Pro Tyr Gln Pro Glu Val Ser Gln Gly Arg Leu Glu Ser Leu 165 170 175 Leu Asn Tyr Gln Thr Met Val Cys Asp Ile Thr Gly Leu Asp Met Ala 180 185 190 Asn Ala Ser Leu Leu Asp Glu Gly Thr Ala Ala Ala Glu Ala Leu Gln 195 200 205 Leu Cys Tyr Arg His Asn Lys Arg Arg Lys Phe Leu Val Asp Pro Arg 210 215 220 Cys His Pro Gln Thr Ile Ala Val Val Gln Thr Arg Ala Lys Tyr Thr 225 230 235 240 Gly Val Leu Thr Glu Leu Lys Leu Pro Cys Glu Met Asp Phe Ser Gly 245 250 255 Lys Asp Val Ser Gly Val Leu Phe Gln Tyr Pro Asp Thr Glu Gly Lys 260 265 270 Val Glu Asp Phe Thr Glu Leu Val Glu Arg Ala His Gln Ser Gly Ser 275 280 285 Leu Ala Cys Cys Ala Thr Asp Leu Leu Ala Leu Cys Ile Leu Arg Pro 290 295 300 Pro Gly Glu Phe Gly Val Asp Ile Ala Leu Gly Ser Ser Gln Arg Phe 305 310 315 320 Gly Val Pro Leu Gly Tyr Gly Gly Pro His Ala Ala Phe Phe Ala Val 325 330 335 Arg Glu Ser Leu Val Arg Met Met Pro Gly Arg Met Val Gly Val Thr 340 345 350 Arg Asp Ala Thr Gly Lys Glu Val Tyr Arg Leu Ala Leu Gln Thr Arg 355 360 365 Glu Gln His Ile Arg Arg Asp Lys Ala Thr Ser Asn Ile Cys Thr Ala 370 375 380 Gln Ala Leu Leu Ala Asn Met Ala Ala Met Phe Arg Ile Tyr His Gly 385 390 395 400 Ser His Gly Leu Glu His Ile Ala Arg Arg Val His Asn Ala Thr Leu 405 410 415 Ile Leu Ser Glu Gly Leu Lys Arg Ala Gly His Gln Leu Gln His Asp 420 425 430 Leu Phe Phe Asp Thr Leu Lys Ile His Cys Gly Cys Ser Val Lys Glu 435 440 445 Val Leu Gly Arg Ala Ala Gln Arg Gln Ile Asn Phe Arg Leu Phe Glu 450 455 460 Asp Gly Thr Leu Gly Ile Ser Leu Asp Glu Thr Val Asn Glu Lys Asp 465 470 475 480 Leu Asp Asp Leu Leu Trp Ile Phe Gly Cys Glu Ser Ser Ala Glu Leu 485 490 495 Val Ala Glu Ser Met Gly Glu Glu Cys Arg Gly Ile Pro Gly Ser Val 500 505 510 Phe Lys Arg Thr Ser Pro Phe Leu Thr His Gln Val Phe Asn Ser Tyr 515 520 525 His Ser Glu Thr Asn Ile Val Arg Tyr Met Lys Lys Leu Glu Asn Lys 530 535 540 Asp Ile Ser Leu Val His Ser Met Ile Pro Leu Gly Ser Cys Thr Met 545 550 555 560 Lys Leu Asn Ser Ser Ser Glu Leu Ala Pro Ile Thr Trp Lys Glu Phe 565 570 575 Ala Asn Ile His Pro Phe Val Pro Leu Asp Gln Ala Gln Gly Tyr Gln 580 585 590 Gln Leu Phe Arg Glu Leu Glu Lys Asp Leu Cys Glu Leu Thr Gly Tyr 595 600 605 Asp Gln Val Cys Phe Gln Pro Asn Ser Gly Ala Gln Gly Glu Tyr Ala 610 615 620 Gly Leu Ala Thr Ile Arg Ala Tyr Leu Asn Gln Lys Gly Glu Gly His 625 630 635 640 Arg Thr Val Cys Leu Ile Pro Lys Ser Ala His Gly Thr Asn Pro Ala 645 650 655 Ser Ala His Met Ala Gly Met Lys Ile Gln Pro Val Glu Val Asp Lys 660 665 670 Tyr Gly Asn Ile Asp Ala Val His Leu Lys Ala Met Val Asp Lys His 675 680 685 Lys Glu Asn Leu Ala Ala Ile Met Ile Thr Tyr Pro Ser Thr Asn Gly 690 695 700 Val Phe Glu Glu Asn Ile Ser Asp Val Cys Asp Leu Ile His Gln His 705 710 715 720 Gly Gly Gln Val Tyr Leu Asp Gly Ala Asn Met Asn Ala Gln Val Gly 725 730 735 Ile Cys Arg Pro Gly Asp Phe Gly Ser Asp Val Ser His Leu Asn Leu 740 745 750 His Lys Thr Phe Cys Ile Pro His Gly Gly Gly Gly Pro Gly Met Gly 755 760 765 Pro Ile Gly Val Lys Lys His Leu Ala Pro Phe Leu Pro Asn His Pro 770 775 780 Val Ile Ser Leu Lys Arg Asn Glu Asp Ala Cys Pro Val Gly Thr Val 785 790 795 800 Ser Ala Ala Pro Trp Gly Ser Ser Ser Ile Leu Pro Ile Ser Trp Ala 805 810 815 Tyr Ile Lys Met Met Gly Gly Lys Gly Leu Lys Gln Ala Thr Glu Thr 820 825 830 Ala Ile Leu Asn Ala Asn Tyr Met Ala Lys Arg Leu Glu Thr His Tyr 835 840 845 Arg Ile Leu Phe Arg Gly Ala Arg Gly Tyr Val Gly His Glu Phe Ile 850 855 860 Leu Asp Thr Arg Pro Phe Lys Lys Ser Ala Asn Ile Glu Ala Val Asp 865 870 875 880 Val Ala Lys Arg Leu Gln Asp Tyr Gly Phe His Ala Pro Thr Met Ser 885 890 895 Trp Pro Val Ala Gly Thr Leu Met Val Glu Pro Thr Glu Ser Glu Asp 900 905 910 Lys Ala Glu Leu Asp Arg Phe Cys Asp Ala Met Ile Ser Ile Arg Gln 915 920 925 Glu Ile Ala Asp Ile Glu Glu Gly Arg Ile Asp Pro Arg Val Asn Pro 930 935 940 Leu Lys Met Ser Pro His Ser Leu Thr Cys Val Thr Ser Ser His Trp 945 950 955 960 Asp Arg Pro Tyr Ser Arg Glu Val Ala Ala Phe Pro Leu Pro Phe Met 965 970 975 Lys Pro Glu Asn Lys Phe Trp Pro Thr Ile Ala Arg Ile Asp Asp Ile 980 985 990 Tyr Gly Asp Gln His Leu Val Cys Thr Cys Pro Pro Met Glu Val Tyr 995 1000 1005 Glu Ser Pro Phe Ser Glu Gln Lys Arg Ala Ser Ser 1010 1015 1020 18 46 PRT Homo sapiens 18 Gln Gly Asp Ser Ser Pro Cys Ser Ala Phe Glu Phe His Cys Leu Ser 1 5 10 15 Gly Glu Cys Ile His Ser Ser Trp Arg Cys Asp Gly Gly Pro Asp Cys 20 25 30 Lys Asp Lys Ser Asp Glu Glu Asn Cys Ala Val Ala Thr Cys 35 40 45 19 44 PRT Homo sapiens 19 Asp Gly Gly Pro Asp Cys Lys Asp Lys Ser Asp Glu Glu Asn Cys Ala 1 5 10 15 Val Ala Thr Cys Arg Pro Asp Glu Phe Gln Cys Ser Asp Gly Asn Cys 20 25 30 Ile His Gly Ser Arg Gln Cys Asp Arg Glu Tyr Asp 35 40 20 138 DNA Homo sapiens 20 caaggggaca gtagcccctg ctcggccttc gagttccact gcctaagtgg cgagtgcatc 60 cactccagct ggcgctgtga tggtggcccc gactgcaagg acaaatctga cgaggaaaac 120 tgcgctgtgg ccacctgt 138 21 132 DNA Homo sapiens 21 gatggtggcc ccgactgcaa ggacaaatct gacgaggaaa actgcgctgt ggccacctgt 60 cgccctgacg aattccagtg ctctgatgga aactgcatcc atggcagccg gcagtgtgac 120 cgggaatatg ac 132 22 839 PRT Homo sapiens 22 Ala Val Gly Asp Arg Cys Glu Arg Asn Glu Phe Gln Cys Gln Asp Gly 1 5 10 15 Lys Cys Ile Ser Tyr Lys Trp Val Cys Asp Gly Ser Ala Glu Cys Gln 20 25 30 Asp Gly Ser Asp Glu Ser Gln Glu Thr Cys Leu Ser Val Thr Cys Lys 35 40 45 Ser Gly Asp Phe Ser Cys Gly Gly Arg Val Asn Arg Cys Ile Pro Gln 50 55 60 Phe Trp Arg Cys Asp Gly Gln Val Asp Cys Asp Asn Gly Ser Asp Glu 65 70 75 80 Gln Gly Cys Pro Pro Lys Thr Cys Ser Gln Asp Glu Phe Arg Cys His 85 90 95 Asp Gly Lys Cys Ile Ser Arg Gln Phe Val Cys Asp Ser Asp Arg Asp 100 105 110 Cys Leu Asp Gly Ser Asp Glu Ala Ser Cys Pro Val Leu Thr Cys Gly 115 120 125 Pro Ala Ser Phe Gln Cys Asn Ser Ser Thr Cys Ile Pro Gln Leu Trp 130 135 140 Ala Cys Asp Asn Asp Pro Asp Cys Glu Asp Gly Ser Asp Glu Trp Pro 145 150 155 160 Gln Arg Cys Arg Gly Leu Tyr Val Phe Gln Gly Asp Ser Ser Pro Cys 165 170 175 Ser Ala Phe Glu Phe His Cys Leu Ser Gly Glu Cys Ile His Ser Ser 180 185 190 Trp Arg Cys Asp Gly Gly Pro Asp Cys Lys Asp Lys Ser Asp Glu Glu 195 200 205 Asn Cys Ala Val Ala Thr Cys Arg Pro Asp Glu Phe Gln Cys Ser Asp 210 215 220 Gly Asn Cys Ile His Gly Ser Arg Gln Cys Asp Arg Glu Tyr Asp Cys 225 230 235 240 Lys Asp Met Ser Asp Glu Val Gly Cys Val Asn Val Thr Leu Cys Glu 245 250 255 Gly Pro Asn Lys Phe Lys Cys His Ser Gly Glu Cys Ile Thr Leu Asp 260 265 270 Lys Val Cys Asn Met Ala Arg Asp Cys Arg Asp Trp Ser Asp Glu Pro 275 280 285 Ile Lys Glu Cys Gly Thr Asn Glu Cys Leu Asp Asn Asn Gly Gly Cys 290 295 300 Ser His Val Cys Asn Asp Leu Lys Ile Gly Tyr Glu Cys Leu Cys Pro 305 310 315 320 Asp Gly Phe Gln Leu Val Ala Gln Arg Arg Cys Glu Asp Ile Asp Glu 325 330 335 Cys Gln Asp Pro Asp Thr Cys Ser Gln Leu Cys Val Asn Leu Glu Gly 340 345 350 Gly Tyr Lys Cys Gln Cys Glu Glu Gly Phe Gln Leu Asp Pro His Thr 355 360 365 Lys Ala Cys Lys Ala Val Gly Ser Ile Ala Tyr Leu Phe Phe Thr Asn 370 375 380 Arg His Glu Val Arg Lys Met Thr Leu Asp Arg Ser Glu Tyr Thr Ser 385 390 395 400 Leu Ile Pro Asn Leu Arg Asn Val Val Ala Leu Asp Thr Glu Val Ala 405 410 415 Ser Asn Arg Ile Tyr Trp Ser Asp Leu Ser Gln Arg Met Ile Cys Ser 420 425 430 Thr Gln Leu Asp Arg Ala His Gly Val Ser Ser Tyr Asp Thr Val Ile 435 440 445 Ser Arg Asp Ile Gln Ala Pro Asp Gly Leu Ala Val Asp Trp Ile His 450 455 460 Ser Asn Ile Tyr Trp Thr Asp Ser Val Leu Gly Thr Val Ser Val Ala 465 470 475 480 Asp Thr Lys Gly Val Lys Arg Lys Thr Leu Phe Arg Glu Asn Gly Ser 485 490 495 Lys Pro Arg Ala Ile Val Val Asp Pro Val His Gly Phe Met Tyr Trp 500 505 510 Thr Asp Trp Gly Thr Pro Ala Lys Ile Lys Lys Gly Gly Leu Asn Gly 515 520 525 Val Asp Ile Tyr Ser Leu Val Thr Glu Asn Ile Gln Trp Pro Asn Gly 530 535 540 Ile Thr Leu Asp Leu Leu Ser Gly Arg Leu Tyr Trp Val Asp Ser Lys 545 550 555 560 Leu His Ser Ile Ser Ser Ile Asp Val Asn Gly Gly Asn Arg Lys Thr 565 570 575 Ile Leu Glu Asp Glu Lys Arg Leu Ala His Pro Phe Ser Leu Ala Val 580 585 590 Phe Glu Asp Lys Val Phe Trp Thr Asp Ile Ile Asn Glu Ala Ile Phe 595 600 605 Ser Ala Asn Arg Leu Thr Gly Ser Asp Val Asn Leu Leu Ala Glu Asn 610 615 620 Leu Leu Ser Pro Glu Asp Met Val Leu Phe His Asn Leu Thr Gln Pro 625 630 635 640 Arg Gly Val Asn Trp Cys Glu Arg Thr Thr Leu Ser Asn Gly Gly Cys 645 650 655 Gln Tyr Leu Cys Leu Pro Ala Pro Gln Ile Asn Pro His Ser Pro Lys 660 665 670 Phe Thr Cys Ala Cys Pro Asp Gly Met Leu Leu Ala Arg Asp Met Arg 675 680 685 Ser Cys Leu Thr Glu Ala Glu Ala Ala Val Ala Thr Gln Glu Thr Ser 690 695 700 Thr Val Arg Leu Lys Val Ser Ser Thr Ala Val Arg Thr Gln His Thr 705 710 715 720 Thr Thr Arg Pro Val Pro Asp Thr Ser Arg Leu Pro Gly Ala Thr Pro 725 730 735 Gly Leu Thr Thr Val Glu Ile Val Thr Met Ser His Gln Ala Leu Gly 740 745 750 Asp Val Ala Gly Arg Gly Asn Glu Lys Lys Pro Ser Ser Val Arg Ala 755 760 765 Leu Ser Ile Val Leu Pro Ile Val Leu Leu Val Phe Leu Cys Leu Gly 770 775 780 Val Phe Leu Leu Trp Lys Asn Trp Arg Leu Lys Asn Ile Asn Ser Ile 785 790 795 800 Asn Phe Asp Asn Pro Val Tyr Gln Lys Thr Thr Glu Asp Glu Val His 805 810 815 Ile Cys His Asn Gln Asp Gly Tyr Ser Tyr Pro Ser Arg Gln Met Val 820 825 830 Ser Leu Glu Asp Asp Val Ala 835 23 53 PRT Artificial Sequence Synthesized peptide TAPA148 which is derived from human CD81 23 Thr Phe His Glu Thr Leu Asp Cys Cys Gly Ser Ser Thr Leu Thr Ala 1 5 10 15 Leu Thr Thr Ser Val Leu Lys Asn Asn Leu Cys Pro Ser Gly Ser Asn 20 25 30 Ile Ile Ser Asn Leu Phe Lys Thr Asp Cys His Gln Lys Ile Asp Asp 35 40 45 Leu Thr Ser Gly Lys 50 24 36 PRT Artificial Sequence Synthesized peptide bLF443 which is derived from bovine lactoferrin 24 Leu Asp Cys Val Leu Arg Pro Thr Glu Gly Tyr Leu Ala Val Ala Val 1 5 10 15 Val Lys Lys Ala Asn Glu Gly Leu Thr Trp Asn Ser Leu Lys Asp Lys 20 25 30 Lys Ser Cys His 35 25 36 PRT Artificial Sequence Synthesized peptide hLF445 which is derived from human lactoferrin 25 Pro Asn Cys Val Asp Arg Pro Val Glu Gly Tyr Leu Ala Val Ala Val 1 5 10 15 Val Arg Arg Ser Asp Thr Ser Leu Thr Trp Asn Ser Val Lys Gly Lys 20 25 30 Lys Ser Cys His 35 26 39 PRT Artificial Sequence Synthesized peptide hLDLR194 which is derived from human LDL receptor 26 Ser Ser Pro Cys Ser Ala Phe Glu Phe His Cys Leu Ser Gly Glu Cys 1 5 10 15 Ile His Ser Ser Trp Arg Cys Asp Gly Gly Pro Asp Cys Lys Asp Lys 20 25 30 Ser Asp Glu Glu Asn Cys Ala 35 27 37 PRT Artificial Sequence Synthesized peptide hLDLR220 which is derived from human LDL receptor 27 Pro Asp Cys Lys Asp Lys Ser Asp Glu Glu Asn Cys Ala Val Ala Thr 1 5 10 15 Cys Arg Pro Asp Glu Phe Gln Cys Ser Asp Gly Asn Cys Ile His Gly 20 25 30 Ser Arg Gln Cys Asp 35 28 33 PRT Artificial Sequence Synthesized cyclic peptide cbLF445 whic h is derived from bovine lactoferrin 28 Cys Val Leu Arg Pro Thr Glu Gly Tyr Leu Ala Val Ala Val Val Lys 1 5 10 15 Lys Ala Asn Glu Gly Leu Thr Trp Asn Ser Leu Lys Asp Lys Lys Ser 20 25 30 Cys 29 29 DNA Artificial Sequence Synthesized oligonucleotide for interferon- alpha2b specific primer U-2 29 ataggatccg cagcatctgc aacatctac 29 30 34 DNA Artificial Sequence Synthesized oligonucleotide for interferon- alpha2b specific primer L2 30 tacaagcttg aaaatcattt ccatgttgaa ccag 34 31 27 DNA Artificial Sequence Synthesized oligonucleotide for iH3TER primer 31 cttaagcttt cttgcaagtt tgttgac 27 32 163 DNA Artificial Sequence Synthesized nucleotide having a sequence corresponding to the deduced HCV E2 binding region in CD81 32 aagcttaaga agtaaggaac acgagacgct tgactgctgt ggctccagca cactgactgc 60 tttgaccacc tcagtgctca agaacaattt gtgtccctcg ggcagcaaca tcatcagcaa 120 cctcttcaag gaggactgcc accagaagat cgattgactt aag 163 33 157 DNA Artificial Sequence Synthesized nucleotide having a sequence corresponding to the deduced HCV E2 binding region in bovine lactoferrin 33 aagcttaaga agtaaggaac acagtagcct agattgtgtg ctgagaccaa cggaagggta 60 ccttgccgtg gcagttgtca agaaagcaaa tgaggggctc acatggaatt ctctgaaaga 120 caagaagtcg tgccacaccg ccgtggactg acttaag 157 34 157 DNA Artificial Sequence Synthesized nucleotide having a sequence corresponding to the deduced HCV E2 binding region in human lactoferrin 34 aagcttaaga agtaaggaag accctgatcc taactgtgtg gatagacctg tggaaggata 60 tcttgctgtg gcggtggtta ggagatcaga cactagcctt acctggaact ctgtgaaagg 120 caagaagtcc tgccacaccg ccgtggactg acttaag 157 35 234 PRT Bos taurus 35 Leu Leu Ser Lys Ala Gln Glu Lys Ser Gly Lys Asn Lys Ser Arg Ser 1 5 10 15 Phe Gln Leu Phe Gly Ser Pro Pro Gly Gln Arg Asp Leu Leu Phe Lys 20 25 30 Asp Ser Ala Leu Gly Phe Leu Arg Ile Pro Ser Lys Val Asp Ser Ala 35 40 45 Leu Tyr Leu Gly Ser Arg Tyr Leu Thr Thr Leu Lys Asn Leu Arg Glu 50 55 60 Thr Ala Glu Glu Val Lys Ala Arg Tyr Thr Arg Val Val Trp Cys Ala 65 70 75 80 Val Gly Pro Glu Glu Gln Lys Lys Cys Gln Gln Trp Ser Gln Gln Ser 85 90 95 Gly Gln Asn Val Thr Cys Ala Thr Ala Ser Thr Thr Asp Asp Cys Ile 100 105 110 Val Leu Val Leu Lys Gly Glu Ala Asp Ala Leu Asn Leu Asp Gly Gly 115 120 125 Tyr Ile Tyr Thr Ala Gly Lys Cys Gly Leu Val Pro Val Leu Ala Glu 130 135 140 Asn Arg Lys Ser Ser Lys His Ser Ser Leu Asp Cys Val Leu Arg Pro 145 150 155 160 Thr Glu Gly Tyr Leu Ala Val Ala Val Val Lys Lys Ala Asn Glu Gly 165 170 175 Leu Thr Trp Asn Ser Leu Lys Asp Lys Lys Ser Cys His Thr Ala Val 180 185 190 Asp Arg Thr Ala Gly Trp Asn Ile Pro Met Gly Leu Ile Val Asn Gln 195 200 205 Thr Gly Ser Cys Ala Phe Asp Glu Phe Phe Ser Gln Ser Cys Ala Pro 210 215 220 Gly Ala Asp Pro Lys Ser Arg Leu Cys Ala 225 230 36 182 PRT Homo sapiens 36 Lys Ala Val Val Lys Thr Phe His Glu Thr Leu Asp Cys Cys Gly Ser 1 5 10 15 Ser Thr Leu Thr Ala Leu Thr Thr Ser Val Leu Lys Asn Asn Leu Cys 20 25 30 Pro Ser Gly Ser Asn Ile Ile Ser Asn Leu Phe Lys Glu Asp Cys His 35 40 45 Gln Lys Ile Asp Asp Leu Phe Ser Gly Lys Leu Tyr Ala Glu Asn Arg 50 55 60 Lys Ser Ser Lys His Ser Ser Leu Asp Cys Val Leu Arg Pro Thr Glu 65 70 75 80 Gly Tyr Leu Ala Val Ala Val Val Lys Lys Ala Asn Glu Gly Leu Thr 85 90 95 Trp Asn Ser Leu Lys Asp Lys Lys Ser Cys His Thr Ala Val Asp Arg 100 105 110 Thr Ala Gly Trp Asn Ile Pro Met Ala Glu Asn Tyr Lys Ser Gln Gln 115 120 125 Ser Ser Asp Pro Asp Pro Asn Gly Val Asp Arg Pro Val Glu Gly Tyr 130 135 140 Leu Ala Val Ala Val Val Arg Arg Ser Asp Thr Ser Leu Thr Trp Asn 145 150 155 160 Ser Val Lys Gly Lys Lys Ser Cys His Thr Ala Val Asp Arg Thr Ala 165 170 175 Gly Trp Asn Ile Pro Met 180 37 20 PRT Anas platyrhynchos 37 Met Ala Gly Ala Ala Arg Gly Leu Leu Trp Ala Ala Leu Ser Leu Cys 1 5 10 15 Leu Leu Pro Glu 20 38 20 PRT Anas platyrhynchos 38 Arg Glu Gly Glu Lys Arg Glu Met Leu Arg Ala Leu Gly Val Gln Ser 1 5 10 15 Val Glu Glu Leu 20 39 17 PRT Anas platyrhynchos 39 Leu Trp Ala Ala Leu Ser Leu Cys Leu Leu Pro Glu Pro Leu Arg Ala 1 5 10 15 Ala 40 17 PRT Anas platyrhynchos 40 Glu Ala Ala Arg Cys Ile Glu Gln Leu Leu Pro Arg His Asp Asp Phe 1 5 10 15 Ser 41 27 PRT Anas platyrhynchos 41 Leu Val Val Thr Val Ala Gly Ala Ser Met Ser Ala Leu Val Leu Thr 1 5 10 15 Ala Cys Ile Ile Trp Gly Val Cys Ser Ile Lys 20 25 42 27 PRT Anas platyrhynchos 42 Ile Glu Glu Gly Arg Met Asp Pro Gln Leu Asn Pro Leu Lys Met Ser 1 5 10 15 Pro His Thr Leu Asn Gly Val Thr Ser Ser Lys 20 25 43 25 PRT Anas platyrhynchos 43 Met Ala Gly Ala Ala Arg Gly Leu Leu Trp Ala Ala Leu Ser Leu Cys 1 5 10 15 Leu Leu Pro Glu Pro Leu Arg Ala Ala 20 25 44 43 PRT Anas plaryrhynchos 44 Glu Ala Ala Arg Cys Ile Glu Gln Leu Leu Pro Arg His Asp Asp Phe 1 5 10 15 Ser Arg Arg His Ile Gly Pro Arg Glu Gly Glu Lys Arg Glu Met Leu 20 25 30 Arg Ala Leu Gly Val Gln Ser Val Glu Glu Leu 35 40 45 102 PRT Anas platyrhynchros 45 Phe Cys Asp Ala Met Ile Ser Ile Arg Gln Glu Ile Ala Glu Ile Glu 1 5 10 15 Glu Gly Arg Met Asp Pro Gln Ile Asn Pro Leu Lys Met Ser Pro His 20 25 30 Thr Leu Asn Gly Val Thr Ser Ser Lys Trp Asp Arg Pro Tyr Ser Arg 35 40 45 Glu Val Ala Ala Phe Pro Leu Pro Phe Val Lys Pro Glu Ser Lys Phe 50 55 60 Trp Pro Thr Ile Ala Arg Ile Asp Asp Ile Tyr Gly Asp Gln His Leu 65 70 75 80 Val Cys Thr Cys Pro Pro Met Glu Ala Tyr Glu Ser Pro Phe Ser Glu 85 90 95 Gln Lys Arg Ala Ser Ser 100 46 1385 PRT Anas platyrhynchros 46 Gly Ala Ala Arg Gly Leu Leu Trp Ala Ala Leu Ser Leu Cys Leu Leu 1 5 10 15 Pro Glu Pro Leu Arg Ala Ala His Ile Lys Lys Ala Glu Ala Ala Ala 20 25 30 Ala Gly Gly Gly Gly Gly Gly Val Gly Gly Glu Leu Arg Tyr Leu His 35 40 45 Ala Ala Glu Leu Gly Gln Ala Leu Arg Asp Leu Val Ala Glu Ala Pro 50 55 60 Pro Gly Leu Ala Arg Leu Phe Ser Ile Gly Arg Ser Val Glu Gly Arg 65 70 75 80 Pro Leu Trp Val Leu Arg Leu Thr Ala Gly Leu Pro Glu Leu Pro Glu 85 90 95 Ala Arg Gln Asp Gly Glu Lys Lys Lys Lys Glu Glu Glu Glu Glu Glu 100 105 110 Glu Glu Glu Gly Glu Glu Gly Gly Gly Gly Ala Leu Pro Gly Arg Pro 115 120 125 Gln Val Lys Leu Val Gly Asn Met His Gly Asp Glu Pro Leu Ala Arg 130 135 140 Pro Leu Leu Leu Arg Leu Ala Gln Glu Leu Val Arg Gly Trp Ala Gly 145 150 155 160 Gly Asp Glu Arg Leu Gly Arg Leu Leu Asn Thr Thr Asp Leu Tyr Leu 165 170 175 Leu Pro Ser Leu Asn Pro Asp Gly Phe Glu Arg Ala Arg Glu Gly Asp 180 185 190 Cys Gly Gly Gly Gly Gly Gly Glu Gly Gly Gly Glu Pro Gly Gly Arg 195 200 205 Glu Asn Ser Arg Gly Arg Asp Leu Asn Arg Ser Phe Pro Asp Gln Phe 210 215 220 Gly Ser Ala Gln Pro Asp Leu Glu Pro Val Pro Glu Val Arg Ala Leu 225 230 235 240 Ile Ala Trp Met Arg Arg Asn Lys Phe Leu Leu Ser Gly Asn Leu His 245 250 255 Gly Gly Ser Val Val Ala Ser Tyr Pro Tyr Asp Asp Ser Pro Thr His 260 265 270 Arg Pro Thr Gly Val Tyr Ser Lys Ser Ala Asp Asp Glu Val Phe Lys 275 280 285 Tyr Leu Ala Lys Ala Tyr Ala Ser His His Pro Ile Met Arg Thr Gly 290 295 300 Lys Pro Asn Cys Pro Gly Glu Glu Gly Glu Thr Phe Gln Asp Gly Ile 305 310 315 320 Thr Asn Gly Ala Gln Trp Tyr Asp Val Glu Gly Gly Met Gln Asp Tyr 325 330 335 Asn Tyr Val Trp Ala Asn Cys Phe Glu Ile Thr Leu Glu Leu Ser Cys 340 345 350 Cys Lys Tyr Pro Pro Thr Ser Glu Leu Gln Gln Glu Trp Glu Asn Asn 355 360 365 Arg Glu Ser Leu Leu Thr Phe Ile Glu Lys Val His Ile Gly Val Lys 370 375 380 Gly Tyr Val Arg Asp Ala Ile Thr Gly Ala Gly Leu Glu Asn Ala Thr 385 390 395 400 Ile Val Val Ala Gly Ile Ala His Asn Ile Thr Ala Gly Lys Phe Gly 405 410 415 Asp Tyr His Arg Leu Leu Val Pro Gly Thr Tyr Asn Val Thr Ala Val 420 425 430 Val Met Gly Tyr Ala Pro Val Thr Lys Glu Asn Ile Glu Val Lys Glu 435 440 445 Gly Asp Ala Thr Val Val Asp Phe Ser Leu Gln Pro Thr Val Val Ala 450 455 460 Pro Asp Pro Asn Leu Thr Gln Phe Thr Ala Thr Pro Ala Pro Leu Ser 465 470 475 480 Thr Leu Thr Pro Ser Val Ala Gln Ala Glu Pro Pro Ala Thr Thr Ser 485 490 495 Leu His Arg Ala Val Gln Pro Val Asp Phe Arg His His His Phe Ser 500 505 510 Asp Met Glu Ile Phe Leu Arg Arg Tyr Ala Asn Glu Tyr Pro Ser Ile 515 520 525 Thr Arg Leu Tyr Ser Val Gly Lys Ser Val Glu Leu Arg Glu Leu Tyr 530 535 540 Val Met Glu Ile Ser Asp Asn Pro Gly Val His Glu Ala Gly Glu Pro 545 550 555 560 Glu Phe Lys Tyr Ile Gly Asn Met His Gly Asn Glu Val Val Gly Arg 565 570 575 Glu Leu Leu Leu Asn Leu Ile Glu Tyr Leu Cys Lys Asn Phe Gly Thr 580 585 590 Asp Pro Glu Val Thr Asp Leu Val Gln Ser Thr Arg Ile His Ile Met 595 600 605 Pro Ser Met Asn Pro Asp Gly Tyr Glu Lys Ser Gln Glu Gly Asp Arg 610 615 620 Gly Gly Thr Val Gly Arg Asn Asn Ser Asn Asn Tyr Asp Leu Asn Arg 625 630 635 640 Asn Phe Pro Asp Gln Phe Phe Gln Val Thr Asp Pro Pro Gln Pro Glu 645 650 655 Thr Leu Ala Val Met Ser Trp Leu Lys Thr Tyr Pro Phe Val Leu Ser 660 665 670 Ala Asn Leu His Gly Gly Ser Leu Val Val Asn Tyr Pro Phe Asp Asp 675 680 685 Asp Glu Gln Gly Ile Ala Ile Tyr Ser Lys Ser Pro Asp Asp Ala Val 690 695 700 Phe Gln Gln Leu Ala Leu Ser Tyr Ser Lys Glu Asn Lys Lys Met Tyr 705 710 715 720 Gln Gly Ser Pro Cys Lys Asp Leu Tyr Pro Thr Glu Tyr Phe Pro His 725 730 735 Gly Ile Thr Asn Gly Ala Gln Trp Tyr Asn Val Pro Gly Gly Met Gln 740 745 750 Asp Trp Asn Tyr Leu Asn Thr Asn Cys Phe Glu Val Thr Ile Glu Leu 755 760 765 Gly Cys Val Lys Tyr Pro Lys Ala Glu Glu Leu Pro Lys Tyr Trp Glu 770 775 780 Gln Asn Arg Arg Ser Leu Leu Gln Phe Ile Lys Gln Val His Arg Gly 785 790 795 800 Ile Trp Gly Phe Val Leu Asp Ala Thr Asp Gly Arg Gly Ile Leu Asn 805 810 815 Ala Thr Ile Ser Val Ala Asp Ile Asn His Pro Val Thr Thr Tyr Lys 820 825 830 Asp Gly Asp Tyr Trp Arg Leu Leu Val Gln Gly Thr Tyr Lys Val Thr 835 840 845 Ala Ser Ala Arg Gly Tyr Asp Pro Val Thr Lys Thr Val Glu Val Asp 850 855 860 Ser Lys Gly Gly Val Gln Val Asn Phe Thr Leu Ser Arg Thr Asp Ala 865 870 875 880 Lys Val Glu Glu Gly Lys Val Pro Val Leu Asn Thr Pro Asp Thr Ser 885 890 895 Asp Pro Asn Glu Lys Glu Phe Glu Thr Leu Ile Lys Asp Leu Ser Ala 900 905 910 Glu Asn Gly Leu Glu Arg Leu Leu Leu Ala Ser Ser Gly Lys Val Ser 915 920 925 Pro Tyr Arg Tyr Arg Pro Tyr Lys Asp Leu Ser Glu Phe Leu Arg Gly 930 935 940 Leu Tyr Leu Asn Tyr Pro His Ile Thr Asn Leu Thr Ser Leu Gly Gln 945 950 955 960 Ser Val Glu Phe Arg Gln Ile Trp Ser Leu Glu Ile Ser Asn Lys Pro 965 970 975 Asn His Ser Glu Pro Glu Glu Pro Lys Ile Arg Phe Val Ala Gly Ile 980 985 990 His Gly Asn Ala Pro Val Gly Thr Glu Leu Leu Leu Ala Leu Ala Glu 995 1000 1005 Phe Leu Cys Met Asn Tyr Lys Lys Asn Ser Ala Val Thr Lys Leu Ile 1010 1015 1020 Asp Arg Thr Arg Ile Val Ile Val Pro Ser Leu Asn Pro Asp Gly Arg 1025 1030 1035 1040 Glu Ile Ala Gln Glu Arg Gly Cys Thr Ser Lys Leu Gly His Ala Asn 1045 1050 1055 Ala His Gly Arg Asp Leu Asp Thr Asp Phe Thr Ser Asn Tyr Ser Arg 1060 1065 1070 Tyr Ser Gly Thr Arg Glu Pro Glu Thr Lys Ala Ile Ile Glu Asn Leu 1075 1080 1085 Ile Leu Lys Gln Asp Phe Ser Leu Ser Val Ala Leu Asp Gly Gly Ser 1090 1095 1100 Leu Leu Val Thr Tyr Pro Phe Asp Lys Pro Ala Gln Thr Val Glu Asn 1105 1110 1115 1120 Lys Asp Thr Leu Lys His Leu Ala Ser Val Tyr Ala Asn Asn His Pro 1125 1130 1135 Leu Met His Leu Gly Gln Pro Gly Cys Pro Asn Lys Ser Asp Glu Asn 1140 1145 1150 Ile Pro Gly Gly Val Ile Arg Gly Ser Glu Trp His Ser His Leu Gly 1155 1160 1165 Ser Met Lys Asp Phe Ser Val Thr Phe Gly His Cys Pro Glu Ile Thr 1170 1175 1180 Val Tyr Thr Ser Cys Cys Tyr Phe Pro Ser Ala Gly Gln Leu Pro Gly 1185 1190 1195 1200 Leu Trp Ala Asp His Arg Lys Ser Leu Leu Ser Met Leu Val Glu Val 1205 1210 1215 His Lys Gly Val His Gly Phe Val Gln Asp Lys Ser Gly Lys Ala Ile 1220 1225 1230 Ser Lys Ala Thr Ile Val Leu Asn Glu Gly Leu Arg Val Tyr Thr Lys 1235 1240 1245 Glu Gly Gly Tyr Phe His Val Leu Leu Ala Pro Gly Leu His Asn Ile 1250 1255 1260 Asn Ala Ile Ala Asp Gly Tyr Gln Gln Lys His Met Lys Val Leu Val 1265 1270 1275 1280 Arg His Asp Ala Pro Ser Ser Val Phe Ile Val Phe Asp Met Glu Asn 1285 1290 1295 Arg Ile Phe Gly Leu Pro Arg Glu Leu Val Val Thr Val Ala Gly Ala 1300 1305 1310 Ser Met Ser Ala Leu Val Leu Thr Ala Cys Ile Ile Trp Cys Val Cys 1315 1320 1325 Ser Ile Lys Ser Asn Arg His Lys Asp Gly Phe Pro Thr Leu Arg Gln 1330 1335 1340 His His Asp Asp Tyr Glu Asp Glu Ile Arg Met Met Ser Thr Gly Ser 1345 1350 1355 1360 Lys Lys Ser Leu Leu Ser His Glu Phe Gln Asp Glu Thr Asp Thr Glu 1365 1370 1375 Glu Glu Thr Leu Tyr Ser Ser Lys His 1380 1385 47 1020 PRT Anas platyrhynchros 47 Leu Phe Ile Ser Asp Ala Ala Arg Gly Gly Pro Arg His Leu Arg Pro 1 5 10 15 Ala Gly Gly Gly Gly Gln His Arg Gln Gln Gln His Asn Gln Gln Gln 20 25 30 Gln Arg Trp Val Gly Gly Gly Gly Gly Gly Gly Gly Gly Gly Gly Glu 35 40 45 Ala Ala Arg Cys Ile Glu Gln Leu Leu Pro Arg His Asp Asp Phe Ser 50 55 60 Arg Arg His Ile Gly Pro Arg Glu Gly Glu Lys Arg Glu Met Leu Arg 65 70 75 80 Ala Leu Gly Val Gln Ser Val Glu Glu Leu Met Asp Lys Ala Ile Pro 85 90 95 Gly Ser Ile Arg Leu Arg Arg Pro Leu Arg Met Glu Asp Pro Val Gly 100 105 110 Glu Asn Glu Ile Leu Glu Thr Leu Tyr Asn Ile Ala Ser Lys Asn Lys 115 120 125 Ile Trp Arg Ser Tyr Ile Gly Met Gly Tyr Tyr Asn Cys Ser Val Pro 130 135 140 Gln Pro Ile Ala Arg Asn Leu Leu Glu Asn Ala Gly Trp Val Thr Gln 145 150 155 160 Tyr Thr Pro Tyr Gln Pro Glu Val Ser Gln Gly Arg Leu Glu Ser Leu 165 170 175 Leu Asn Tyr Gln Thr Met Val Cys Asp Ile Thr Gly Met Asp Val Ala 180 185 190 Asn Ala Ser Leu Leu Asp Glu Gly Thr Ala Ala Ala Glu Ala Met Gln 195 200 205 Leu Cys His Arg His Asn Lys Arg Arg Lys Phe Tyr Val Asp Ser Arg 210 215 220 Cys His Pro Gln Thr Ile Ala Val Val Gln Thr Arg Ala Asn Tyr Thr 225 230 235 240 Gly Val Ile Thr Glu Leu Lys Leu Pro His Glu Met Asp Phe Ser Gly 245 250 255 Lys Asp Val Ser Gly Val Leu Phe Gln Tyr Pro Asp Thr Glu Gly Lys 260 265 270 Val Glu Asp Phe Ser Glu Leu Val Glu Arg Ala His Gln Asn Gly Thr 275 280 285 Leu Ala Cys Cys Ala Thr Asp Leu Leu Ala Leu Cys Ile Leu Lys Pro 290 295 300 Pro Gly Glu Phe Gly Val Asp Val Val Leu Gly Ser Ser Gln Arg Phe 305 310 315 320 Gly Val Pro Leu Cys Tyr Gly Gly Pro His Ala Ala Phe Phe Ala Val 325 330 335 Lys Glu Asn Leu Val Arg Met Met Pro Gly Arg Met Val Gly Val Thr 340 345 350 Arg Asp Ala Asn Gly Lys Glu Val Tyr Arg Leu Ala Leu Gln Thr Arg 355 360 365 Glu Gln His Ile Arg Arg Asp Lys Ala Thr Ser Asn Ile Cys Thr Ala 370 375 380 Gln Ala Leu Leu Ala Asn Met Ala Ala Met Phe Gly Val Tyr His Gly 385 390 395 400 Ser Asp Gly Leu Arg Asp Ile Ala Arg Arg Val His Asn Ala Thr Leu 405 410 415 Ile Leu Ala Glu Gly Leu Arg Arg Ala Gly His Lys Leu His His Asp 420 425 430 Leu Phe Phe Asp Thr Leu Thr Val Thr Cys Gly Cys Ser Val Lys Glu 435 440 445 Val Leu Asp Arg Ala Ala Leu Arg Lys Ile Asn Phe Arg Ile Tyr Ser 450 455 460 Asp Gly Arg Leu Gly Val Ser Leu Asp Glu Thr Val Ser Glu Lys Asp 465 470 475 480 Leu Asp Asp Ile Leu Trp Ile Phe Gly Cys Glu Ser Ser Ala Glu Leu 485 490 495 Ile Ala Glu Gly Met Gly Glu Glu Thr Lys Gly Ile Leu Ser Thr Pro 500 505 510 Phe Lys Arg Thr Ser Lys Phe Leu Thr His Gln Val Phe Asn Ser Tyr 515 520 525 His Ser Glu Thr Asn Ile Val Arg Tyr Met Lys Arg Leu Glu Asn Lys 530 535 540 Asp Ile Ser Leu Val His Ser Met Ile Pro Leu Gly Ser Cys Thr Met 545 550 555 560 Lys Leu Asn Ser Ser Ala Glu Leu Ala Pro Ile Ser Trp Lys Glu Phe 565 570 575 Ala Asn Ile His Pro Phe Val Pro Leu Asp Gln Ala Gln Gly Tyr Gln 580 585 590 Gln Leu Phe Lys Asp Leu Glu Lys Asp Leu Cys Glu Ile Thr Gly Tyr 595 600 605 Asp Lys Ile Ser Phe Gln Pro Asn Ser Gly Ala Gln Gly Glu Tyr Ala 610 615 620 Gly Leu Ala Ala Ile Lys Ala Tyr Leu Asn Ala Lys Gly Glu Arg His 625 630 635 640 Arg Ser Val Cys Leu Ile Pro Arg Ser Ala His Gly Thr Asn Pro Ala 645 650 655 Ser Ala Gln Met Ala Gly Met Lys Ile Gln Pro Val Glu Val Asp Lys 660 665 670 Asn Gly Ser Ile Asp Ile Ser His Leu Lys Ala Met Val Asp Lys His 675 680 685 Lys Glu Asn Leu Ala Ala Ile Met Ile Thr Tyr Pro Ser Thr Asn Gly 690 695 700 Val Phe Glu Glu Glu Ile Gly Asp Val Cys Glu Leu Ile His Lys Asn 705 710 715 720 Gly Gly Gln Val Tyr Leu Asp Gly Ala Asn Met Asn Ala Gln Val Gly 725 730 735 Leu Cys Arg Pro Gly Asp Tyr Gly Ser Asp Val Ser His Leu Asn Leu 740 745 750 His Lys Thr Phe Cys Ile Pro His Gly Gly Gly Gly Pro Gly Met Gly 755 760 765 Pro Ile Gly Val Lys Lys His Leu Ala Pro Tyr Leu Pro Thr His Pro 770 775 780 Val Ile Lys Ile Gln Thr Asp Lys Asp Ala Cys Pro Leu Gly Thr Val 785 790 795 800 Ser Ala Ala Pro Trp Gly Ser Ser Ala Ile Leu Pro Ile Ser Trp Val 805 810 815 Tyr Ile Lys Thr Met Gly Ala Lys Gly Leu Lys His Ala Ser Glu Val 820 825 830 Ala Ile Leu Asn Ala Asn Tyr Met Ala Lys Arg Leu Glu Lys His Tyr 835 840 845 Lys Ile Leu Phe Arg Gly Val Arg Gly Tyr Val Ala His Glu Phe Ile 850 855 860 Leu Asp Thr Arg Pro Phe Lys Lys Thr Ala Asn Ile Glu Ala Val Asp 865 870 875 880 Leu Ala Lys Arg Leu Gln Asp Tyr Gly Phe His Ala Pro Thr Met Ser 885 890 895 Trp Pro Val Ala Gly Thr Leu Met Ile Glu Pro Thr Glu Ser Glu Asp 900 905 910 Lys Ala Glu Leu Asp Arg Phe Cys Asp Ala Met Ile Ser Ile Arg Gln 915 920 925 Glu Ile Ala Glu Ile Glu Glu Gly Arg Met Asp Pro Gln Ile Asn Pro 930 935 940 Leu Lys Met Ser Pro His Thr Leu Asn Cys Val Thr Ser Ser Lys Trp 945 950 955 960 Asp Arg Pro Tyr Ser Arg Glu Val Ala Ala Phe Pro Leu Pro Phe Val 965 970 975 Lys Pro Glu Ser Lys Phe Trp Pro Thr Ile Ala Arg Ile Asp Asp Ile 980 985 990 Tyr Gly Asp Gln His Leu Val Cys Thr Cys Pro Pro Met Glu Ala Tyr 995 1000 1005 Glu Ser Pro Phe Ser Glu Gln Lys Arg Ala Ser Ser 1010 1015 1020 48 237 PRT Homo sapiens 48 Ser Tyr Lys Trp Val Cys Asp Gly Ser Ala Glu Cys Gln Asp Gly Ser 1 5 10 15 Asp Glu Ser Gln Glu Thr Cys Leu Ser Val Thr Cys Lys Ser Gly Asp 20 25 30 Phe Ser Cys Gly Gly Arg Val Asn Arg Cys Ile Pro Gln Phe Trp Arg 35 40 45 Cys Asp Gly Gln Val Asp Cys Asp Asn Gly Ser Asp Glu Gln Gly Cys 50 55 60 Pro Pro Lys Thr Cys Ser Gln Asp Glu Phe Arg Cys His Asp Gly Lys 65 70 75 80 Cys Ile Ser Arg Gln Phe Val Cys Asp Ser Asp Arg Asp Cys Leu Asp 85 90 95 Gly Ser Asp Glu Ala Ser Cys Pro Val Leu Thr Cys Gly Pro Ala Ser 100 105 110 Phe Gln Cys Asn Ser Ser Thr Cys Ile Pro Gln Leu Trp Ala Cys Asp 115 120 125 Asn Asp Pro Asp Cys Glu Asp Gly Ser Asp Glu Trp Pro Gln Arg Cys 130 135 140 Arg Gly Leu Tyr Val Phe Gln Gly Asp Ser Ser Pro Cys Ser Ala Phe 145 150 155 160 Glu Phe His Cys Leu Ser Gly Glu Cys Ile His Ser Ser Trp Arg Cys 165 170 175 Asp Gly Gly Pro Asp Cys Lys Asp Lys Ser Asp Glu Glu Asn Cys Ala 180 185 190 Val Ala Thr Cys Arg Pro Asp Glu Phe Gln Cys Ser Asp Gly Asn Cys 195 200 205 Ile His Gly Ser Arg Gln Cys Asp Arg Glu Tyr Asp Cys Lys Asp Met 210 215 220 Ser Asp Glu Val Gly Cys Val Asn Val Thr Leu Cys Glu 225 230 235 50 360 PRT Homo sapiens 50 Ala Val Gly Asp Arg Cys Glu Arg Asn Glu Phe Gln Cys Gln Asp Gly 1 5 10 15 Lys Cys Ile Ser Tyr Lys Trp Val Cys Asp Gly Ser Ala Glu Cys Gln 20 25 30 Asp Gly Ser Asp Glu Ser Gln Glu Thr Cys Leu Ser Val Thr Cys Lys 35 40 45 Ser Gly Asp Phe Ser Cys Gly Gly Arg Val Asn Arg Cys Ile Pro Gln 50 55 60 Phe Trp Arg Cys Asp Gly Gln Val Asp Cys Asp Asn Gly Ser Asp Glu 65 70 75 80 Gln Gly Cys Pro Pro Lys Thr Cys Ser Gln Asp Glu Phe Arg Cys His 85 90 95 Asp Gly Lys Cys Ile Ser Arg Gln Phe Val Cys Asp Ser Asp Arg Asp 100 105 110 Cys Leu Asp Gly Ser Asp Glu Ala Ser Cys Pro Val Leu Thr Cys Gly 115 120 125 Pro Ala Ser Phe Gln Cys Asn Ser Ser Thr Cys Ile Pro Gln Leu Trp 130 135 140 Ala Cys Asp Asn Asp Pro Asp Cys Glu Asp Gly Ser Asp Glu Trp Pro 145 150 155 160 Gln Arg Cys Arg Gly Leu Tyr Val Phe Gln Gly Asp Ser Ser Pro Cys 165 170 175 Ser Ala Phe Glu Phe His Cys Leu Ser Gly Glu Cys Ile His Ser Ser 180 185 190 Trp Arg Cys Asp Gly Gly Pro Asp Cys Lys Asp Lys Ser Asp Glu Glu 195 200 205 Asn Cys Ala Val Ala Thr Cys Arg Pro Asp Glu Phe Gln Cys Ser Asp 210 215 220 Gly Asn Cys Ile His Gly Ser Arg Gln Cys Asp Arg Glu Tyr Asp Cys 225 230 235 240 Lys Asp Met Ser Asp Glu Val Gly Cys Val Asn Val Thr Leu Cys Glu 245 250 255 Gly Pro Asn Lys Phe Lys Cys His Ser Gly Glu Cys Ile Thr Leu Asp 260 265 270 Lys Val Cys Asn Met Ala Arg Asp Cys Arg Asp Trp Ser Asp Glu Pro 275 280 285 Ile Lys Glu Cys Gly Thr Asn Glu Cys Leu Asp Asn Asn Gly Gly Cys 290 295 300 Ser His Val Cys Asn Asp Leu Lys Ile Gly Tyr Glu Cys Leu Cys Pro 305 310 315 320 Asp Gly Phe Gln Leu Val Ala Gln Arg Arg Cys Glu Asp Ile Asp Glu 325 330 335 Cys Gln Asp Pro Asp Thr Cys Ser Gln Leu Cys Val Asn Leu Glu Gly 340 345 350 Gly Tyr Lys Cys Gln Cys Glu Glu 355 360 

1. (amended) A prophylactic or therapeutic agent for chronic type-C hepatitis, comprising an oligopeptide having at least one kind of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 18, 19, 26 and
 27. 2. (amended) The prophylactic or therapeutic agent for chronic type-C hepatitis according to claim 1, comprising an oligopeptide having 20% or more homology with at least one kind of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 18, 19, 26 and 27 at the homologous amino acid level, wherein said oligopeptide has the following characteristics: (A) having a binding affinity to a viral antigen protein; (B) inhibiting binding of virus to a receptor protein on a target cell for said virus; and (C) having homologies with said receptor protein at the amino acid sequence level.
 3. (amended) The prophylactic or therapeutic agent for chronic type-C hepatitis according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said oligopeptide is an oligopeptide having the following characteristics: I) consisting of 31 to 33 amino acids which are flanked by cysteine residues; II) forming loop structure: and III) comprising basic amino acid residues at a middle portion and C-terminal side of the loop structure.
 4. (amended) The prophylactic or therapeutic agent for chronic type-C hepatitis according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said oligopeptide is a cyclic oligopeptide comprising an oligopeptide having the following characteristics: I) consisting of 31 to 33 amino acids which are flanked by cysteine residues; II) forming loop structure: and III) comprising basic amino acid residues at a middle portion and C-terminal side of the loop structure.
 5. (amended) A prophylactic or therapeutic agent for chronic type-C hepatitis, comprising a nucleic acid having at least one kind of a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 4, 5 and
 6. 6. (amended) A prophylactic or therapeutic agent for chronic type-C hepatitis, comprising a nucleic acid having at least one kind of a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 20 and
 21. 7. (amended) A prophylactic or therapeutic agent for chronic type-B hepatitis, comprising a compound having the following characteristics: (a′) having a binding affinity to S antigen protein of HBV; and (b′) inhibiting binding of HBV to a receptor protein on a target cell for said HBV.
 8. (amended) The prophylactic or therapeutic agent for chronic type-B hepatitis according to claim 7, comprising an oligopeptide having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10 or
 11. 9. (amended) A prophylactic or therapeutic agent for chronic type-B hepatitis, comprising a nucleic acid having a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 12 or
 13. 10. (amended) A fusion interferon containing an amino acid sequence of an oligopeptide having the following characteristics: (A) having a binding affinity to a viral antigen protein; (B) inhibiting binding of virus to a receptor protein on a target cell for said virus; and (C) having homologies with said receptor protein at the amino acid sequence level.
 11. (amended) A fusion interferon containing at least one kind of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2, 3, 26 and
 27. 12. (amended) A fusion interferon containing at least one kind of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 18 and
 19. 13. (amended) A fusion interferon containing an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10 or
 11. 14. (amended) A method for treating chronic hepatitis in combination with the use of interferon, characterized by using an oligopeptide in combination with interferon, wherein said oligopeptide has the following characteristics: (A) having a binding affinity to a viral antigen protein; (B) inhibiting binding of virus to a receptor protein on a target cell for said virus; and (C) having homologies with said receptor protein at the amino acid sequence level.
 15. (deleted)
 16. (deleted)
 17. (deleted)
 18. (deleted) 